Communication card system, communication system, and web information transmission and processing device

ABSTRACT

A communication card system ( 101 ) comprises a second communication card ( 2   a ), a second information processing system ( 3   a ), and a user terminal unit ( 51 ). The second information processing system ( 3   a ) synthesizes concealed image data to be communicated in main image data for display, and provides the synthesized image data. An image display recognition system ( 5 ) includes the user terminal unit ( 51   a ) which displays main image data and displays concealed image data in an invisible manner. The second communication card ( 2   a ) having an optical medium ( 23   a ) of transmissive optical characteristic is used for visually recognizing concealed image formed by concealed image data displayed on the user terminal unit ( 51   a ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a communication card system, acommunication system, and a web-based informationtransmission/processing device, which allows use of a hidden image and atool for making the hidden image clearly visible so as to enablecommunication with customer(s).

More specifically, the present invention relates to a communication cardsystem, communication system, and web-based informationtransmission/processing device, which are of a high scalability andallows a user's terminal device to be directly used for making a hiddenimage visible, thereby giving a low-cost maximum performance.

BACKGROUND ARTS

In the past, it has been well known that many entrepreneurs in variousfields have effected their own marketing activities by making full useof various kinds of marketing tools and the like in an attempt toconduct market research and invite people to become their loyal customeror registered members.

In this context, an example of marketing will be explained, where abrochure is used as one of marketing tools. Namely, for instance, anentrepreneur distributes to each of customers a brochure giving his orher URL (Uniform Rescue Locator; i.e. an Internet standard means forindicating a location where a desired information exists on the Internetand a guidance for access to the information). Then, the customer inputsthe URL in the brochure into his or her terminal device and gains accessto a website of the entrepreneur. Upon such customer's access beingmade, the entrepreneur collects information about the customer on thewebsite and thereby conducts marketing research, invites the customer tobecome a registered member, and so forth (hereinafter, this shall bereferred to as a “first prior art”).

Further, another example of marketing will be explained, where a directmail is used as one of marketing tools. In this case, an entrepreneursends to each of customers a direct mail giving his or her URL likewiseas stated above. Then, the customer inputs the URL in the direct mailinto his or her terminal device and gains access to a website of theentrepreneur. Upon such customer's access, the entrepreneur collectsinformation about the customer on the website and thereby conductsmarketing research, invites the customer to become a registered member,and so forth (hereinafter, this shall be referred to as a “second priorart”).

Still another example of marketing will be explained, where a CDrecording medium (i.e. compact disc) is used as one of marketing tools.In such case, as an alternative mode of the marketing tool, anentrepreneur records his or her URL in a CD medium, as similar to theforegoing examples, and sends the CD medium to each of customers. Then,the customer operates his or her terminal device to record therein suchURL given in the CD and gains access to a website of the entrepreneur.Upon such customer's access, the entrepreneur collects information aboutthe customer on the website and thereby conducts marketing research,invites the customer to become a registered member, and so forth(hereinafter, this shall be referred to as a “third prior art”). In thisexample, there is eliminated the necessity to manually input the URL,and therefore, it can be expected that the rate of access to the websitewill become increased higher than in the case of the foregoing brochureor direct mail.

However, the afore-stated first prior art has been found defective inthat 1) no new attractive aspect is attained due to many other similarcases being seen around, 2) labor costs are incurred for distribution ofthe brochures, and 3) the tool distributed to the customers containsnothing but the notification of URL, as a result of which, the toolitself has no other useful functions and remains the same as ever, notappealing to the customers.

Further, the second prior art has been found defective in that 1) a rateof customers' responses to the direct mails is low, 2) the number ofcustomers' accesses to the website is small, and 3) the entrepreneur cannot obtain so much profits in return for his or her considerable amountof labors for sending the direct mails. Still further, such second priorart will not cause any further business development, such as integrationof entrepreneur's website with relevant shops or reintroduction of goodsor services.

In addition, the third prior art has been found defective in that 1) itinvolves preparation of CD recording media and mailing or distributionof the same, thus resulting in a vast increase of costs, and 2) whilethe number of access to the website may become increased more than theforegoing first and second prior arts, an entrepreneur can not obtain asatisfactory result such as customers' registration.

It is therefore a purpose of the present invention to provide acommunication card system, communication system, and web-basedinformation transmission/processing device, which obviate theabove-stated defects and is easily capable of: realizing effective guideand induction to an entrepreneur's website; constructing customer'sdatabase; providing questionnaire or quiz on a website; giving anincentive for playing action items including games on a website; andfurther, integrating the website with relevant shops and/or purchaseditems.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In order to achieve the foregoing purpose, there is provided acommunication card system in accordance with an invention described inclaim 1, which is characterized by being provided with:

a first communication card formed by a sheet bearing predetermined marksprinted thereon, wherein the predetermined marks includes letters,graphics and signs, and the sheet has, provided in a localized regionthereof, an optical medium in which a hidden image intended forcommunication purpose is plotted;

a first information processing system capable of transmission of aninformation input image data, the first information processing systembeing of such an arrangement that, subsequent to the information inputimage data being transmitted therefrom, and then, upon receipt of acollected information data written in the particular information inputimage data, the first information processing system is operable totransmit an image output data for causing emission of a color tone(s)which makes/make visible the hidden image in the optical medium, andthat, when loading the collected information data, the first informationprocessing system is operable to classify the collected information datain a predetermined way; and

a user's terminal device having an information input means for allowingvarious kinds of information data to be inputted thereinto, a displaymeans for displaying the information input image data and/or other datato be displayed, and a processing means for effecting various requiredcontrols and processing information data,

wherein the communication card system is also characterized in that:

the fist communication card is distributed to customer(s);

the user's terminal device, when a URL indicated on the firstcommunication card or other medium is inputted therein, effectsoperation which entails: making access to the first informationprocessing system; then causing a predetermined information input imagedata to load to the particular user's terminal device from the firstinformation processing system; causing indication of an informationinput image on the display means from the predetermined informationinput image data; and, upon a given information data having beeninputted into the information input image via the input means,transmitting the given information data to the first informationprocessing system; and

further, the user's terminal device operates to emit a color tone(s) onand from the display means, the color tone(s) being based on an imageoutput data transmitted from the first information processing system, sothat a hidden image in the optical medium of the first communicationcard is made visible by the color tone(s) in such a manner as to permitvisual perception of the hidden image, thereby providing a particularinformation to the customer(s) through the first communication card.

In order to achieve the foregoing purpose, there is provided acommunication card system in accordance with an invention described inclaim 2, which is characterized by being provided with:

a first communication card formed by a sheet bearing predetermined marksprinted thereon, wherein the predetermined marks includes letters,graphics and signs, and the sheet has, provided in a localized regionthereof, an optical medium in which a hidden image intended forcommunication purpose is plotted;

a first information processing system capable of transmission of aninformation input image data, the first information processing systembeing of such an arrangement that, subsequent to the information inputimage data being transmitted therefrom, and then, upon receipt of acollected information data written in the particular information inputimage data, the first information processing system is operable totransmit an image output data for causing emission of a color tone(s)which makes/make visible the hidden image in the optical medium, andthat, when loading the collected information data, the first informationprocessing system is operable to classify the collected information datain a predetermined way; and

wherein the communication card system is also characterized in that:

the fist communication card is distributed to a customer(s); and

the first information processing system effects operation which entails:transmitting a predetermined information input image data; then, uponreceipt of a collected information data, transmitting an image outputdata for causing emission of a predetermined color tone(s), with such anarrangement that the hidden image of the first communication card andthe emission of predetermined color tone(s) are used so as to enablecommunication with a customer(s).

In order to achieve the foregoing purpose, there is provided acommunication card system in accordance with an invention described inclaim 3, which is characterized by being provided with:

a second communication card formed by a sheet bearing predeterminedmarks printed thereon, wherein the predetermined marks includes letters,graphics and signs, and the sheet has, provided in a localized regionthereof, an optical medium in which a hidden image intended forcommunication purpose is plotted;

a second information processing system capable of transmission of aninformation input image data, the second information processing systembeing of such an arrangement that, subsequent to the information inputimage data being transmitted therefrom, and then, upon receipt of acollected information data written in the particular information inputimage data, the second information processing system is operable tocombine a data on the hidden image, which is to be sent to acustomer(s), with a main image data to be displayed, so as to create animage output data which is adapted for causing only an image associatedwith the main image data to indicate in a visible manner, while causingthe hidden image data to indicate in an invisible manner, thentransmitting the image output data, and further, the second informationprocessing system, after having loaded the collected information data,operates to classify the collected information data in a predeterminedway; and

a user's terminal device having an information input means for allowingvarious kinds of information data to be inputted therein, a displaymeans for displaying the information input image data and/or other datato be displayed, and a processing means for effecting various requiredcontrols and processing information data,

wherein the communication card system is also characterized in that:

the second communication card is distributed to a customer(s);

the user's terminal device, into which is inputted a URL indicated onthe second communication card or other medium, is operable to executethe steps of making access to the second information processing system;then causing a predetermined information input image data to load intothe particular user's terminal device from the second informationprocessing system; causing indication of an information input image onthe display means from the predetermined information input image data;and upon a particular information data having been inputted in theinformation input image via the input means, transmitting the particularinformation data to the second information processing system; and

further, the user's terminal device is operable to receive an imageoutput data transmitted from the second information transmissionprocessing device, and causes indication of a main image data on thedisplay means, while simultaneously causing indication of a hidden imagedata in an invisible manner on the display means, with such anarrangement that a hidden image indicated on the display means is madevisually perceivable by means of the second communication card, therebyproviding a predetermined information to the customer(s) via the secondcommunication card.

In order to achieve the foregoing purpose, there is provided acommunication card system in accordance with an invention described inclaim 4, which is characterized by being provided with:

a second communication card formed by a sheet bearing predeterminedmarks printed thereon, wherein the predetermined marks includes letters,graphics and signs, and the sheet has, provided in a localized regionthereof, an optical medium in which a hidden image intended forcommunication purpose is plotted; and

a second information processing system capable of transmission of aninformation input image data, the second information processing systembeing of such an arrangement that, subsequent to the information inputimage data being transmitted therefrom, and then, upon receipt of acollected information data written in the particular information inputimage data, the second information processing system is operable tocombine a data on the hidden image, which is to be presented tocustomer(s), with a main image data to be displayed, so as to create animage output data which is adapted for causing only an image associatedwith the main image data to indicate in a visible manner, while causingthe hidden image data to indicate in an invisible manner, thentransmitting the image output data, and further, the second informationprocessing system, after having loaded the collected information data,operates to classify the collected information data in a predeterminedway;

wherein the communication card system is also characterized in that:

the second communication card is distributed to a customer(s);

the second information processing system effects operation whichentails: transmitting a predetermined information input image data; andthen, upon receipt of a collected information, transmitting an imageoutput data for causing emission of a predetermined color tone(s), sothat the second communication card and a hidden image indicated therebyeffectively allows for communication with the customer(s).

In order to achieve the foregoing purpose, there is provided acommunication card system in accordance with an invention described inclaim 5, which is characterized by being provided with:

a web-based information transmission/processing device operable toexecute processing which consists in: creating a hidden image data forcausing indication of a hidden image in a predetermined area of an imagebeing displayed; creating a filter image data for causing indication ofa filter image which is to be emitted in a color tone(s) whichmakes/make the hidden image visible in other area than the predeterminedarea of the image being displayed; creating an information input imagedata; transmitting the information input image data; and, upon receiptof a collected information data concerning an information data requiredin the thus-transmitted information input image data, transmitting thehidden image data and the filter image data;

a user's terminal device(s) having an information input image forallowing various required information data to be inputted thereinto; adisplay means for displaying an information input image data and otherdata to be displayed; and a processing means for effecting variousrequired controls and processing information data; wherein the web-basedinformation transmission/processing device is connected with the user'sterminal device(s) via a telecommunication system;

the communication system being characterized in that:

the user's terminal device(s) is/are operable to execute processingwhich consists in: making access to the web-based informationtransmission/processing device on basis of an URL inputted thereinto;causing a predetermined information input image data to load into theuse's terminal device(s) from the web-based informationtransmission/processing device; causing indication of the predeterminedinformation input image data on the display means; and, upon aninformation data having been inputted thereinto in response to theinformation required by the information input image data, transmittingthe information data to the web-based informationtransmission/processing device; and

further, the user's terminal device(s) is/are operable to causeindication of the hidden image data and the filter image data on thedisplay means, wherein the hidden image data and the filter image datahave been transmitted from the web-based informationtransmission/processing device in response to the information datatransmitted to the latter, whereby the hidden image is made visuallyperceivable so as to provide an information intended for particularcommunication purpose.

In order to achieve the foregoing purpose, there is provided acommunication card system in accordance with an invention described inclaim 6, which is characterized by being provided with a means capableof: creating a hidden image data for causing indication of a hiddenimage in a predetermined area of an image being displayed and a filterimage data for causing indication of a filter image which is to beemitted in a color tone(s) for making the hidden image visible in otherarea than the predetermined area of the image being displayed; and alsotransmitting the hidden image data and the filter image data to atelecommunication system in a direction to a user's terminal devicewhich makes access to the web-based information transmission/processingdevice.

In order to achieve the foregoing purpose, there is provided acommunication card system in accordance with an invention described inclaim 7, which is characterized by being provided with a means operableto execute processing which consists in: creating: a hidden image datafor causing indication of a hidden image in a predetermined area of animage being displayed; a filter image data for causing indication of afilter image which is to be emitted in a color tone(s) for making thehidden image visible in other area than the predetermined area of theimage being displayed; and an information input image data; thentransmitting the information input image data, and, upon receipt of acollected information data concerning an information data required inthe information input image data, transmitting the hidden image data andthe filter image data to a telecommunication system in a direction to auser's terminal device(s) which has/have made access to the web-basedinformation transmission/processing device,

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrative of a network communication systemin accordance with an embodiment of a first inventive aspect of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a makeup or formation of a communicationcard for use with the network communication system in accordance withthe embodiment of the first inventive aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrative of a network communication systemin accordance with an embodiment of a second inventive aspect of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a makeup or formation of a piece for usewith the network communication system in accordance with the embodimentof the second inventive aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of composite imageindicated on a display device of an image display/recognition system onthe basis of a composite image data transmitted from a hidden imagetransmission system, in accordance with the embodiment of the secondinventive aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the state where a compositeimage transmitted from a hidden image transmission system of theembodiment of the second inventive aspect is indicated on the displaydevice of an image display/recognition system, and a hidden image ismade visible clearly in such composite image.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrative of a network communication systemin accordance with an embodiment of a third inventive aspect of thepresent invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a makeup or formation of a piece for usewith the network communication system in accordance with the embodimentof the third inventive aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view for explanatorily showing the state where oneexample of composite image transmitted from a hidden image transmissionsystem of the embodiment of the third inventive aspect is indicated onthe display device of an image display/recognition system.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view for explanatorily showing the state where acomposite image transmitted from a hidden image transmission system ofthe embodiment of the third inventive aspect is indicated on the displaydevice of image display/recognition system, and a hidden image is madevisible clearly in such composite image.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrative of a communication card system inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the first inventive aspect ofthe present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrative of a communication card system inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the second inventive aspectof the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrative of a communication card system inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the third inventive aspect ofthe present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrative of a communication card system inaccordance with a modified embodiment of the third inventive aspect ofthe present invention.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a communication system in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing an exemplary construction of user'sterminal device used in communication system in the embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart for explanatorily showing an operation of theuser's terminal device of communication system in accordance with theembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a flow chart for explanatorily showing an operation of aweb-base information transmission/processing device of communicationsystem in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of image indicated on a displaydevice of the user's terminal device of communication system inaccordance with the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing another example of image indicated on adisplay device of the user's terminal device of communication system inaccordance with embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a hidden image and a filter image which areindicated on the display device in accordance with a modified embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing the state where the filter image isoverlaid on the hidden image indicated on the display device inaccordance with the modified embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a diagram for explanatorily showing a flow of steps forindicating images in communication system in accordance with an appliedexample associated with the embodiments of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described withreference to the annexed drawings.

[A Basic Concept of First Inventive Aspect]

FIGS. 1 and 2 are intended to explanatorily illustrate a communicationcard system in accordance with a basic concept of a first inventiveaspect of the present invention. The term, “the first inventive aspect”,in this case refers to a system capable of causing a display means of auser's terminal device to emit a predetermined color tone, therebyenabling visual perception of a hidden image which is given in anoptical medium of a first communication card, so that a particularinformation in that optical medium of first communication card may beprovided to a customer.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrative of a communication card system inaccordance with the basic concept of the first inventive aspect.

In the FIG. 1, generically stated, the communication card system 1 inaccordance with the basic concept of the first inventive aspect iscomprised of: a first communication card 2; a first informationprocessing system 3; and a plurality of image display/recognitionsystems 5, 5, . . . which are workable to recognize a displayed image.The afore-the first information processing system 3 may be connectedwith each of the image display/recognition systems 5, 5, . . . through atelecommunication system 4 capable of wireless communication includingan Internet.

The afore-stated first communication card 2 is defined hereby to be acard which is to be provided and distributed by an entrepreneur(hereinafter, referred to as “information sender”) to a user. (The cardshall be used in such manner, hereinafter.) It should be understood thatthe FIG. 1 shows the state where the information sender distributes thefirst communication card 2 to a customer (hereinafter, referred to as“user”) as indicated by the chain lines designated by a referencecharacter h.

On the surface of the foregoing first communication card 2, there maybe, for example, printed the above-noted URL and a predetermined mark(s)including a letter(s), a graphic(s), and a signal(s) (that is, morespecifically, “name of the card”, “name of company who issues the card”,“description about the card itself, and “check bit number (i.e. “luckynumber”, for instance, which is indicated on the card as far as thedrawings are concerned.)”. The check bit numbers indicated or printed onthe first communication card 2 are arranged differently percommunication card 2 such that a plurality of the cards 2 differ incontents from one another. (The same applies to any case to be describedhereinafter.) The check bit number itself is processed by a knowntechnical means, and any further description thereon is omitted.

Also, the foregoing arrangement allows the information sender to use theafore-first communication card 2 and the first information processingsystem 3 so as to establish communication with customer by means of agiven check bit number of the first communication card 2 and an imageoutput data transmitted from the first information processing system 3.

Here, the first information processing system 3 may for examplecomprise: an image transmission server 31; an information setting means32 for allowing a particular information to be set in the imagetransmission server 31; and a received information processing means 33.

While not shown, such image transmission server 31 is provided with aplurality of central processing units, main memories, input/outputinterfaces, hard disc devices, telecommunication devices, units of LAN(Local Area Network), and so forth. The hard disc devices in that imagetransmission server 31 each has, stored in memory, an operating systembased on a given language and an image transmission application programfor causing transmission of an image.

In the main memories of the image transmission server 31, the operatingsystem in each hard disc device is expanded and stored, so that theforegoing central processing unit can execute the operating system toprovide a basic operation in a predetermined manner, and further, animage transmission application program for processing an informationdata that has been received, which is installed in the hard disc device,is expanded and stored in the main memory, so that the centralprocessing unit can execute that image transmission application programupon the operating system, thereby enabling execution of operation forthe image transmission stated above.

The aforementioned information setting means 32 is also provided with aplurality of central processing units, main memories, input/outputinterfaces, hard disc devices, telecommunication devices, units of LAN(local area network), and so forth, though not shown. The hard discdevices in that image transmission server 32 each has, stored in memory,an operating system based on a given language and a received informationprocessing application program for processing an information data thathas been received.

In the main memories of the information setting means 32, the operatingsystem is expanded and stored, so that the central processing units canexecute the operating system to provide a basic operation in apredetermined manner, and further, a received information processingapplication program for processing an information that has beenreceived, which is installed in the hard disc device, is expanded andstored in the main memory, so that the central processing unit canexecute that received information processing application program uponthe operating system, thereby enabling execution of the above-describedoperation for processing the received information.

The foregoing received information processing means 33 is also providedwith a plurality of central processing units, main memories,input/output interfaces, hard disc devices, telecommunication devices,units of LAN (local area network), and so forth, though not shown, suchthat a central processing unit in the information setting means 33 willexecute an operating system based on a certain language to provide abasic operation in a predetermined manner, and further, the centralprocessing unit will execute an information setting application programon the operating system, thereby enabling execution of theabove-described operation for setting information.

While not shown, the foregoing image display transmission server 31, theforegoing information setting means 32 and the foregoing receivedinformation processing means 33 are connected with one another via a LANcable(s).

The abovementioned information setting means 32 allows requiredinformation data to be inputted therein, the information data forexample including a data on description and drawings for explaining howto use the optical medium of the first communication card 2 or a datafor causing generation of color tones which make visible a hidden imagein the optical medium of the first communication card 2, and, afterthose information data has been inputted, the information setting means32 operates to transfer the inputted information data to the imagetransmission server 31.

The image transmission server 31 is capable of transmission of aninformation input image data on the basic concept of an information datathat has been inputted and set in the information setting means 32, and,after having transmitted the information input image data to theuser(s), the server 31 is also capable of receiving a collectedinformation written in the information input image data that has beentransmitted to the user(s), and, after receipt of the collectedinformation, transmitting to the telecommunication system 4 a data ofdescription and drawings for explaining how to use the optical medium ofthe first communication card 2 and/or an image output data for causinggeneration of color tones which make visible a hidden image in the firstcommunication card 2.

With regard to the afore-stated received information processing means33, upon receipt of an information data transmitted from the imagedisplay/recognition system 5 via the telecommunication system 4 (or uponreceipt of a collected information data written in the information inputimage data that has been transmitted therefrom), that particularreceived information processing means 33 is capable of classifying theafore-stated collected information data in a predetermined way. Further,in accordance with such received information processing means 33, whenan information data of check bit numbers printed on the afore-statedfirst communication card 2 is transmitted thereto via the imagedisplay/recognition system 5 and telecommunication system 4, thereceived information processing means 33 itself can execute a lotteryprocessing on the basic concept of the afore-said information data ofcheck bit numbers and transmit a result of the lottery via thetelecommunication system 4 to the afore-said image display/recognitionsystem 5.

As shown in FIG. 1, the foregoing image display/recognition system 5 isprovided with a user's terminal device(s) 51 which can generate aparticular color tone based on the image output data transmitted fromthe image transmission server 31 of the afore-stated informationprocessing system 3, so that exposure of the optical medium of the firstcommunication card 2 to the color tone indicated on the user's terminaldevice(s) 51 results in visual perception of the hidden image in theoptical medium of the first communication card 2. This user's terminaldevice(s) 51 may be a terminal device owned by the user or otherterminal device owned by other user. Of course, it is essential thateach user's terminal device 51 should be provided with an informationinput means for inputting various kinds of information data, a displaymeans for displaying information input image data and/or other data tobe indicated thereon, and a processing means for effecting variousrequired controls and processing information data.

In the present embodiment, the image transmission server 31 may be ownedby the information sender or not. In other words, any suitable means maybe used, insofar as it enables communication between an informationsender and users through the first communication card 2.

Further, the foregoing user's terminal device (s) 51 may, for example,be a desktop personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as “personalcomputer” or “PC”), a laptop PC, a mobile computer (computer of mobiletype), PDA, or any one of other various kinds of terminal devices. Inother words, each user's terminal device 51 may be any kind of terminaldevice insofar as it includes an information input means for allowingvarious relevant information to be inputted therein, a display means fordisplaying information input image data and/or other data to beindicated, and a processing means for effecting various requiredcontrols and processing information data.

The image transmission server 31 in the present embodiment is equivalentto an image transmission server of the type used by an electriccommunication business entity. Further, the user's terminal device(s) 51may be an online karaoke device capable of two-way transmission, a CATVreceiver capable of two-way communication, a television receiver capableof two-way communication, or the like, in which case, the informationtransmission section of the information processing system 3 may be atransmitter typically provided in a transmitting station.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a makeup or formation of the firstcommunication card used in the communication card system in accordancewith the basic concept of the first inventive aspect of the presentinvention.

As shown in this FIG. 2, the first communication card 2 may be a sheet21 formed from a thin flat base material which is for example such athin-plate-like substrate as paper, plastics, transparent film, oracrylic thin plate, and, on the surface thereof, there may be printed apredetermined mark(s) including a letter(s), a graphic(s), and a sign(s)(e.g. “name of the card”, “name of company who issues the card”,“corporate logo or image logo”, “URL”, “check bit numbers (i.e. “luckynumbers” indicated on the card as far as the drawings are concerned.)”,“background pattern(s)”, or “etc.”. It is noted that, among those marks,the designation 22 stands for a check bit number. With regard to thecheck bit number printed on the lower region of the surface of thethus-formed sheet 21 as illustrated, the present system is programmedsuch that the numerical sequence in the check bit number varies from onesheet of the first communication card 2 to another sheet of the firstcommunication card 2.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, in accordance with the first communicationcard 2, an optical medium 23 of a predetermined square measure isprovided on a localized area of the sheet 21. In that optical medium 23,a hidden image is plotted, which is intended for particularcommunication (or conveyance) purpose. Formation of this optical medium23 is such that a certain hidden image is plotted in a predetermined inkon a thin light-transmissive plate formed by such a material as atransparent or semi-transparent film, acrylic, plastics, or vinyl, andfurther, other image is plotted on that hidden image in another ink of adifferent color than that of the afore-said predetermined ink.

In addition, in accordance with the first communication card 2, as shownin FIG. 2, URLs 24 and 25 are respectively printed on the upper andlower regions of the sheet 21.

It is noted that the hidden image in the optical medium 23 of the firstcommunication card 2 is plotted in a color(s) which is/are in acomplementary relation with a color tone(s) indicated on each of theuser's terminal devices 51. Such complementary color relation is presetin a way that can never be noticed by a user.

A description will be made about the above-constructed communicationcard system of the present first inventive aspect as well as aboutoperations of the information processing system and imagedisplay/recognition system with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

Now, what is to be done first of all by the information sender is toprepare the above-described first communication card 2 according topredetermined processing steps and given details of communication(conveyance) that he or she wishes to transmit.

Thereafter, the information sender inputs and sets an information datainto the information setting means 32 of the information processingsystem 3, the information data containing a diagram(s) and/or adescription(s) on how to use the first communication card 2, and/or anaudio data for explanation of such use of first communication card 2.Further, into that information setting means 32 of the informationprocessing system 3, the information sender inputs and sets aninformation data associated with a color tone(s) adapted to make visiblea hidden image provided in the first communication card 2.

With and after such steps, it is now possible for the image transmissionserver 31 of the information processing system 3 to transmit an imageoutput data on how to use the first communication card 2, or aninformation data on the color tone(s) adapted to make visible the hiddenimage in the first communication card 2, to the user.

Next, the information sender distributes the first communication card 2to the user (see the designation h in FIG. 1).

The user, for example, inputs the URLs 24 and 25, which appear on thefirst communication card 2, into a browser in his or her terminal device51, then gains access to the image transmission server 31 of theinformation processing system 3, and causes an information input imagedata and a data on how to use the first communication card 2 to downloadto the terminal device 51. As a result thereof, from the user's terminaldevice 51, an image and/or a sound is/are generated to indicate how thefirst communication card 2 is to be used, and at the same time, aninformation input image is indicated on the display means of theterminal device.

Then, the user can view the image appearing on the display of theterminal device 51 and understand how to use the first communicationcard 2.

Also, the user can operate the input means of the terminal device 51 towrite required items in an input window image which is indicated on thedisplay according to the information input image data, so that thecorresponding information data is sent to the received informationprocessing means 33 of the first information processing system 3. As aresult thereof, the received information processing means 33 outputs aninstruction signal to the image transmission server 31 which in turntransmits an image output data to the user's terminal device 51 formingone element of the image display/recognition system 5, wherein the imageoutput data is designed to make visible the hidden image plotted in theoptical medium 23 of the first communication card 2.

Responsive thereto, the display means (hereinafter, referred to as“display”) of the user's terminal device 51 indicates images in a colortone(s) capable of making visible the hidden image in the optical medium23 of the first communication card 2.

Then, the user brings the optical medium portion 23 of the fistcommunication card 2 to contact upon the display of the user's terminaldevice 51, whereupon the hidden image in the optical medium 23 of thefirst communication card 2 is set in a complementary color relation withthe color tone(s) emitted on and from the display of the foregoinguser's terminal unit 51, thereby making the hidden image clearlyvisible. Thus, the user can visually recognize the hidden image definedin the optical medium 23 of the first communication card 2. In that way,the hidden image in the optical medium 23 of first communication card 2is now made visible clearly, so that, for example, the hidden imagebecomes visible as the following literal image: “You win”.

At this point, with regard to the information data of the check bitnumber 22 printed on the sheet 21 of the first communication card 2, theuser transmits such information to the received information processingmeans 33 of the information processing system 3 via his or her terminaldevice 51. Simultaneous therewith, besides that information data oncheck bit number 22, it is to be understood that an inputted informationdata, a serial number of the terminal device, a customer's ID, and thelike are transmitted to the received processing means 33 from the user'sterminal device 51.

Upon receiving the thus-transmitted information data of the check bitnumber 22 of first communication card 2, the foregoing receivedinformation processing means 33 of first information processing system 3executes a required processing, such as a processing for lottery, basedon that particular information data of check bit number 22. During thisprocessing step, it is arranged such that, if an information dataidentical to that of the check bit number 22 is transmitted twice, thereceived information processing means 33 of information processingsystem 3 will refuse to receive the information data. Thereafter, thereceived information processing means 33 of information processingsystem 3 again transmits a result of processing finalized thereby, suchas a result of the afore-said lottery, to the user's terminal device 51.

Then, when receiving the information from the received informationprocessing means 33, the terminal unit 51 indicates it on the displaythereof, whereby the user can, for example, notice his or her wining ina quiz, or obtain an information on a desired goods.

It is noted that the received information processing means 33 of thefirst information processing system 3 is capable of processing aninformation based on the check bit number 22 of the first communicationcard 2, and/or any pertinent information through a serial number ofterminal device, a customer ID and the like. For example, suchinformation processing effected by the received information processingmeans 33 deals with an information concerning a customer management anda trend of customers' preference, and any other information associatedwith customers.

According to the above-described basic concept of the first inventiveaspect of the present invention, it is to be appreciated that the hiddenimage defined in the optical medium 23 of the first communication card 2can be perceived visually only in the presence of a particular colortone matched therewith, hence providing a high confidentiality of aninformation to be hidden in secrecy.

Further, according to the basic concept of the first inventive aspect,it is possible for a sender of image information data to properly set arelation between the hidden image provided on the optical medium 23 andthe image output data in a desired manner, hence providing a highconfidentiality of an information to be hidden in secrecy.

Additionally, according to the foregoing embodiment of the firstinventive aspect, it is possible to effectively make visible an image tobe hidden in secrecy.

[A Basic Concept of Second Inventive Aspect]

FIGS. 3 to 6 are intended to illustrate a communication card system inaccordance with the basic concept of second inventive aspect of thepresent invention. The term, “the second inventive aspect”, in this caserefers to a system capable of processing a main image data received inthe user's terminal device and causing it to indicate on theafore-stated display means, while simultaneously processing a data ofhidden image and causing it to indicate on that display means in aninvisible state, and further allowing the hidden image appearing on thedisplay means to be visually perceivable by means of the afore-statedsecond communication card, so that a certain information can be providedto customers through use of the communication card.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrative of the communication card systemin accordance with the present basic concept of the second inventiveaspect.

In the FIG. 3, generically stated, the communication card system 1 a inaccordance with the base of the second inventive aspect is comprised of:a second communication card 2 a; a second information processing system3 a; a plurality of image display/recognition systems 5 a, 5 a, . . .which are workable to recognize a displayed image. The afore-said firstinformation processing system 3 may be connected with each of the imagedisplay/recognition systems, 5 a, 5 a, . . . through a telecommunicationsystem 4 capable of wireless communication including an Internet.

The afore-stated second communication card 2 a is defined hereby to be acard which is to be provided and distributed by an information sender toa user. It should be understood that the FIG. 3 shows the state wherethe information sender distributes the communication card 2 a to theuser, as indicated by the chain lines designated by a referencecharacter h.

On the surface of the foregoing second communication card 2 a, there maybe, for example, printed a URL, a check bit number (lucky number), and apredetermined mark(s) including a letter(s), a graphic(s), and asign(s). The check bit number indicated or printed on the secondcommunication card 2 a are arranged differently per communication card 2a such that a plurality of the cards 2 a differ in contents from oneanother. In this context, for example, the second information system 3 amay be comprised of: an image transmission server 31 a; an informationsetting means 32 a for inputting and setting information in the saidimage transmission server 31 a; and a received information processingmeans 33 a.

The foregoing image transmission server 31 a of the second informationprocessing system 3 a is not only capable of combining a hidden imagedata, which is designed for particular communication purpose, with amain image data designed to be normally displayed, but also capable oftransmission of an image output data which is designed to cause only themain image data to display in a visible manner, while causing the hiddenimage to display in an invisible manner.

The foregoing information setting means 32 a of the second informationprocessing system 3 a allows the following data to input thereinto;namely, a data concerning drawings, description and sound which aredesigned to explain how to use the optical medium of the above-statedsecond communication card 2 a; and/or an information about theafore-said hidden image data designed for particular communicationpurpose, and therefore, after those data and information are inputted,the information setting means 32 a operates to allow the inputted dataand information to be transferred to the image transmission server 31 a.

The received information processing means 33 a of the second informationprocessing system 3 a is not only operable in the same way as theoperation of the aforementioned received information processing means 33a of the first information processing system 3, but also capable ofprocessing an information data based on the check bit number of thesecond communication card 2 a, and/or any pertinent information datathrough a serial number of terminal device, a customer ID and the like.For example, such information processing effected by the receivedinformation processing means 33 a deals with an information concerning acustomer management and a trend of customers' preference, and any otherinformation associated with customers.

As shown in FIG. 3, the image display/recognition system 5 a is providedwith user's terminal devices 51 a which are each own by a user andoperable to display an invisible hidden image on the basis of a data ofthe hidden image and also display a main image on the basis of a data ofthe main image, with such an arrangement that, when a secondcommunication card 2 a distributed from the foregoing information senderis placed on or over the screen of the user's terminal device 51 a, thehidden image can be made visible clearly. It is noted here that theoptical medium of the second communication card 2 a is formed from amedium having an optically transmissive property which can establish acomplementary color relation with a color(s) of hidden image to bedisplayed on the basis of a data of the hidden image, or establish acomplementary color relation with a background color(s).

The user's terminal unit device 51 a may be any suitable device having adisplay device capable of displaying the hidden image and primary image,and an input means, such a keyboard, which allows for inputting of adesired information.

Also, another exemplary mode of such user's terminal unit 51 a may be apersonal computer not to mention, but, it may be one of other variouskinds of computers capable of connection with the above-statedtelecommunication system 4 a.

In the present embodiment, the foregoing user's terminal device 51 a maybe a mobile terminal or cellular phone, and in that case, the imagetransmission server 31 a is equivalent to an information transmissionserver of the type used by an electric communication business entity.Further, the user's terminal device 51 a may be an online karaoke devicecapable of two-way transmission, a CATV receiver capable of two-waycommunication, or the like, in which case, the image transmission server31 a may be a transmitter typically provided in a transmitting station.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a makeup or formation of a communicationcard to be used in the communication card system in accordance with thebasic concept of the second inventive aspect of the present invention.

As shown in the FIG. 4, the second communication card 2 a may be a sheet21 a formed from a thin flat base material which is for example such athin-plate-like substrate as paper, plastics, transparent film, oracrylic thin plate, wherein the sheet 21 a has, provided in itslocalized area, an optical medium 23 a of a predetermined squaremeasure. On the surface of that sheet 21 a of this second communicationcard 2 a, as in FIG. 4, a mark(s) may be printed as required (e.g. acheck bit number 22 a, URLs 24 a, 25 a, a name of the card, a logo, andthe like).

The optical medium 23 a, provided in the localized area of the secondcommunication card 2 a, is formed by a light transmissive medium havingan optically transmissive property which can establish a complementarycolor relation with a color(s) of hidden image to be displayed on thebasis of a data of the hidden image, or with a background color.Specifically, the optical medium 23 a may be a medium essentially formedby a thin flat substrate and a light-transmissive paint coating thesubstrate, wherein the thin flat substrate is the previously statedmaterial such as paper, plastics, transparent film, and acrylic thinplate and wherein the light-transmissive paint having a color(s) thatcan establish a complementary color relation with a color(s) of thehidden image.

Now, referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 in conjunction with FIGS. 3 and 4 adescription will be made of the communication card system in accordancewith the basic concept of the second inventive aspect and of operationof the second information processing system and imagedisplay/recognition system which are used in the said communication cardsystem.

In the present embodiment, FIG. 5(a) is a diagram showing the secondcommunication card to be used in the second information processingsystem in accordance with the basic concept of the second inventiveaspect. FIG. 5(b) is a diagram for explanatorily showing an example of acomposite image which is indicated on the display of the imagedisplay/recognition system on the basis of a composite image datatransmitted from the second information processing system in accordancewith the basic concept of the second inventive aspect. FIG. 6 is adiagram for explanatorily showing the state where the hidden image inthe composite image indicated on the display is made visible as a resultof placing the second communication card on and over the display of theimage display/recognition system in accordance with the basic concept ofthe second inventive aspect.

Now, what should be first done on the side of the information sender isto prepare the second communication card 2 a in accordance with apredetermined processing process with respect to the details ofcommunication to be conveyed.

Then, further, on the information sender's side, an information data onhow to use the second communication card 2 a and an information data ofthe hidden image are inputted into the image transmission server 31 avia the foregoing information setting means 32 a.

The information sender distributes the second communication card 2 a toa user (see the designation h in FIG. 3).

The user inputs the second communication card 2 a into a browser in eachof user's terminal devices 51 a, then operates the terminal device 51 ato establish connection with the image transmission server 31 a of thesecond information processing system 3 a, and obtains an image data onhow to use the second communication card 2 a and an information inputimage data. Hence, upon an image being indicated on the display of theuser's terminal device 51 a and upon a sound being emitted from aspeaker of the terminal device, for example, the user can understand howthe second communication card 2 a is to be used.

Thereafter, the user operates the input means to input requiredinformation into the information input image indicated on the display ofthe user's terminal device 51 a, and then clicks on a send button givenin that image. Responsive thereto, the user's terminal device 51 atransmits to the received information processing means 33 a a collecteddata which has been collected from the foregoing information inputimage. After having loaded such collected data, the received informationprocessing means 33 a gives an instruction to the image transmissionserver 31 a, which in turn causes the image transmission server 31 a totransmit an image output data to the user's terminal device 51 a.

In that way, the user's terminal device 51 a obtains the image outputdata form the image transmission server 31 a, wherein the image outputdata is a composite image data created by combining the hidden imagedata with the main image data.

Accordingly, in operation, as shown in FIG. 5(b), a main image 90appears on the display of the terminal device 51 a according to the mainimage data in the composite image data. Actually, in the main image data90, a hidden image 91 hidden by that main image 90 is indicated on thedisplay as shown in the FIG. 5(b), but apparently remains invisible atthis point.

Then, as indicated by the designation P extending from FIG. 5(a) to FIG.5(b), the user takes the second communication card 2 a that has beendistributed to him or her, and brings the optical medium 23 a of thatcard 2 a to contact upon a particular area of the foregoing main image90 which corresponds to the hidden image 91. As a result thereof, asshown in FIG. 6, an information intended for particular communicationpurpose becomes visible as a visualized image 92 in such particular areaon which the optical medium 23 a is contacted, upon the display of theuser's terminal unit 51 a of the image display/recognition system 5 a.

As far as the present basic concept of the second inventive aspect isconcerned, as shown in the FIG. 6, the visualized image 92 can appear onthe display in the form of the following letters: “30% OFF”, by way ofexample. The reason for realizing such visualization is based on thearrangement wherein the color(s) of those letters corresponding to thehidden image 91 in the main image 90 shown in FIG. 6 is maintained in acomplementary color relation with the color(s) of the optical medium 23a of the second communication card 2 a, thereby, for instance, renderingthe letters themselves visible in black.

Accordingly, with the foregoing second communication card 2 a, it ispossible to make the user visually perceive an information intended forparticular communication purpose which is indicated on the display ofthe user's terminal device 51 a.

Then, the user transmits the check bit number 22 a of the secondcommunication card 2 a from his or her terminal device 51 a to thereceived information processing means 33 a of the second informationprocessing system 3 a.

Such check bit number 22 a of the second communication card 2 a is nowsubjected to processing in the received information processing means 33a, as by a lottery processing for example. From the received informationprocessing means 33 a, a result of such processing is transmitted to theuser' terminal device 51 a via the telecommunication system 4 a.

Thus, for example, the user, who receives a response from the receivedinformation processing means 33 a, which is indicated on the display ofthe user's terminal device 51 a, can notice a wining in quiz or canobtain an information on a desired goods.

At this point, it is essential that the check bit number 22 a, a serialnumber of the terminal device, a customer ID, and the like, should betransmitted to the user's terminal device 51 a. With such arrangement,if an information identical to that of the check bit number 22 a of thesecond communication card 2 a is transmitted twice, the receivedinformation processing means 33 a will refuse to receive such duplicateinformation.

Further, the foregoing received information processing means 33 a iscapable of processing various kinds of information on the basis of thecheck bit number, serial number of terminal unit, customer ID, and thelike. For example, such information processing effected by the receivedinformation processing means 33 a deals with an information concerning acustomer management and a trend of customers' preference, and any otherinformation associated with customers.

As described above, in accordance with the present basic concept of thesecond inventive aspect, the second information processing system 3 aoperates to process any information intended for particularcommunication purpose into a hidden image data and combine orincorporate that hidden image data with or in a main image data so as tocreate a composite image data, after which, the second informationprocessing system 3 a transmits such composite image data to each of theimage display/recognition systems 5 a, 5 a, . . . . On the side of theusers, a main image 90 is indicated on the display of each user'sterminal device 51 a, and also an information intended for particularcommunication purpose is indicated as a hidden image in that main image90. The hidden image is made visible by the optical medium 23 of thesecond communication card 2 a, so that a desired particularcommunication data can be provided to the user.

In accordance with the above-described basic concept of the secondinventive aspect, it is to be appreciated that any information is notdescribed in the optical medium 23 a of the second communication card 2a, and that a communication data can be perceived visually only in thepresence of a hidden image 91 indicated on the display of the user'sterminal device 51 a, hence attaining a high confidentiality of anyinformation desired to be hidden in secrecy.

Further, in accordance with the present basic concept of the secondinventive aspect, the hidden image data can be created on the side ofthe second information processing system 3 a in any desired manner,which is effective and advantageous for providing a high freedom thatallows for any change of the hidden image intended for particularcommunication purpose.

Still further, in accordance with the basic concept of the secondinventive aspect, it is possible to display any moving image as a hiddenimage, if desired.

Additionally, in accordance with the basic concept of the secondinventive aspect, it is possible to effectively allow any desired hiddenimage to be visually perceivable.

[Exemplary Modified Embodiment of the Basic Concept of the SecondInventive Aspect]

FIGS. 7 to 10 are intended to illustrate an exemplary modifiedembodiment of the above-described basic concept of the second inventiveaspect of the present invention in regard to the communication cardsystem by way of example. It is noted here that the term, “exemplarymodified embodiment”, in this case refers to a system capable of makingvisible a hidden image indicated on the display of imagedisplay/recognition system by means of the communication card 2 bhaving, provided at a particular position therein, an optical medium ofoptically transmissive property, as well as by means of the imagedisplay/recognition system for displaying the hidden image at a positioncorresponding to such particular position in the communication card.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrative of a communication card system inaccordance with the present exemplary modified embodiment of the basicconcept of the second inventive aspect.

In the FIG. 7, generically stated, the communication card system 1 b, inthe present exemplary modified embodiment of the basic concept of thesecond inventive aspect, is comprised of: a communication card 2 b; ahidden image transmission system 3 b; and an image display recognitionsystems 5 b, 5 b, . . . . The hidden image transmission system 3 b isconnected with each of the image display/recognition systems 5 b, 5 b, .. . via a telecommunication system 4 b capable of wireless communicationincluding an Internet.

As shown in FIG. 7, the foregoing hidden image transmission system 3 bis comprised of: an image transmission server 31 b; an informationsetting means 32 b; and a received information processing means 33 b.The image transmission server 31 b may be the same image transmissionserver used in the previously described basic concept of the secondinventive aspect, for example. The communication card 2 b is formed by aflat card having, provided on a localized area thereof, an opticalmedium of an optically transmissive property which can make a hiddenimage visually perceivable to the eyes of a person who looks thereat.This optical medium of the communication card 2 b is formed by a mediumwith an optically transmissive property, which has a light transmissiveportion disposed therein at a location corresponding to a display pointwhere the hidden image is formed and indicated on the basis of a hiddenimage data.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the foregoing image display/recognitionsystem 5 b, which may be owned by a user or may be in a conditionoperable by the user, is provided with user's terminal devices 51 bwhich are each capable of indicating a main image on the basis of a mainimage data and also indicating a hidden image on the basis of a hiddenimage data that can not be outputted in any visible manner, with such anarrangement that, when the communication card 2 b, which has the opticalmedium of an optically transmissive property that can convert such dataof invisible hidden image displayed on the user's terminal device 51 binto a data of visually perceivable image, is placed on or over an imagebeing indicated on the display of the user's terminal device 51 b, ahidden image therein is made visible clearly.

It is noted that a structural relation between that particular user'sterminal device 51 b and the hidden image transmission system 3 b isidentical to that described in the foregoing first embodiment or theforegoing second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the makeup or formation of communicationcard to be used in the communication card system in accordance with thepresent modified embodiment of the basic concept of the second inventiveaspect.

This communication card 2 b, as shown in the FIG. 8, comprises a sheet21 b formed by a thin flat substrate, such as plastics, and an opticalmedium 23 b disposed on a localized region of such sheet, the opticalmedium 23 b having a predetermined square measure. While not shown, onthe surface of that first communication card 2 b or the sheet 21 b,there may be printed an imagery and/or letter(s) as required, in whichcase, likewise as in the first or second embodiment, it is desirablethat a certain mark(s)(a check bit number 22 b, URLs 24, 25, and/orother information) be printed on the surface of the sheet 21 b.

The optical medium 23 b, provided on one localized region of theforegoing communication card 2 b, is formed from a medium having anoptically transmissive property, which has a light transmissive portiondisposed therein at a location that can correspond with a point ofdisplay where a hidden image is to be formed and displayed on the basisof a hidden image data. Specifically, the optical medium 23 b maycomprise: the afore-stated thin-plate sheet 21 b which is formed from anopaque film or opaque thin acrylic plate, or a transparent film ortransparent thin acryl plate; an impermeable coating material applied onan entire surface of the sheet 21 b; and a plurality of holes 29, 29, .. . each having a dimensions of about 0.1 to 5.0 [mm], which are formedin the sheet 21 b at a location that can correspond with a point ofdisplay where a hidden image is to be formed and displayed on the basisof a hidden image data. (Those holes 29, 29, . . . are indicated inblack dots in FIG. 8). It is noted that, in addition to the thus-formedholes 29, 29, . . . , some dummy holes may be formed in the opticalmedium 23 b insofar as they will not prevent recognition of the hiddenimage, in order to increase the confidentiality of information.

The above is a description dedicated to the case where the holes 29, 29,. . . are formed in the optical medium 23 b, but, particularly asregards such thin-plate sheet 21 b which for example comprises atransparent film or transparent acrylic plate and a light-impermeablecoating material applied on the entire surface of that film or plate,such coating material may be removed at points corresponding to therespective holes 29, 29, . . . so as to define a plurality of lighttransmissive points in the sheet 21 b, in place of those holes.

Now, referring to FIGS. 9 and 10 in conjunction with FIGS. 7 and 8, adescription will be made of operations of the communication card system,the hidden image transmission system and the image display/recognitionsystem in accordance with the above-described modified mode of the basisof the second inventive aspect.

In the present embodiment, FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram providing anenlarged view of an exemplary composite image which is indicated on thedisplay of the image display/recognition system on the basis of acomposite image data transmitted from the hidden image transmissionsystem in accordance with the present modified mode of the basic conceptof the second inventive aspect. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagramproviding an enlarged view of the state where the hidden image is madevisible in the composite image indicated on the display of the imagedisplay/recognition system on the basis of a composite image datatransmitted from the hidden image transmission system in accordance withthe present modified mode of the basic concept of the second inventiveaspect.

First of all, the information sender prepares a communication card(s) 2b, based on what desired to be done as a predetermined communicationservices, in accordance with predetermined processing steps.

Next, the information sender inputs an information data on how to usethe communication card 2 b and an information data on a hidden imageinto the image transmission server 31 b via the foregoing informationsetting means 32 b.

The information sender distributes the communication card 2 b to a user(see the designation h in FIG. 7).

The user inputs a URL of the information sender into a browser of his orher terminal device 51 b, and establishes connection of the terminaldevice 51 b with the image transmission server 31 b of the hidden imagetransmission system 3 b, so that a data of information input image isdownloaded to the terminal device, and also, a data concerning how touse the first communication card 2 b is downloaded thereto. Then, uponan image being indicated on the display of the terminal device 51 b andupon a sound being emitted from the speaker of the terminal device 51 b,the user can understand how to use the first communication card 2 b.When the user has inputted a required data in the information inputimage indicated on the display, the user's terminal device 51 btransmits the inputted data to the received information processing means33 b. Upon receipt of such collected information, the receivedinformation processing means 33 b gives an transmission instruction tothe image transmission server 31 b, requesting transmission of an imageoutput data.

Thereafter, the image transmission server 31 b, upon receiving suchtransmission instruction, operates to contact the user's terminal device51 b, requesting that an image output data be outputted and transmittedfrom the image transmission server 31 b to the user's terminal device 51b.

As a result, in the user's terminal device 51 b, the image output datais obtained, which contains a composite image data that the imagetransmission server 31 b has created by combining a given hidden imagedata with a main image data. Thus, as shown in FIG. 9, upon the displayof the user's terminal device, a certain main image 90 b is indicated onthe basis of the main image data incorporated in the composite imagedata. In the thus-indicated main image 90 b, a hidden image 91 b isindicated, which is actually formed by a plurality of light emittingpoints 50, 50, . . . at predetermined positions, while being concealedor hidden by the indicated main image 90 b. (In FIG. 9, such lightemitting points 50, 50, . . . are however indicated in back.) It isnoted here that the light emitting points 50, 50, . . . themselves arenormally indicated in an invisible manner unless otherwise processed.

Then, the user takes the communication card 2 b that has beendistributed from the information sender and brings a particular area ofthat card 2 b, which corresponds to the optical medium 23 b, intocontact upon a localized region of the indicated main image whichcorresponds to the hidden image 91 b, whereupon, as seen in FIG. 9, aninformation intended for particular communication purpose becomesvisualized as a clearly visible image 92 b.

In accordance with the present modified embodiment of the basic conceptof the second inventive aspect, as illustrated, the visible image 92 bis a “picture of panda”, for instance. The reason for such visualizationof the image 92 b is based on the arrangement wherein the position ofthe light emitting points (indicated in black by the designations 50,50, . . . in FIG. 9) at the hidden image 91 b of the main image shown inFIG. 10 is maintained in a predetermined relation with the position ofthe holes 29, 29 . . . , whereby the “picture of panda” becomesvisualized in the form of black panda figure.

Accordingly, by use of the communication card 2 b as above, aninformation intended for particular communication purpose, which isindicated on the display of the user's terminal device 51 b, can be madevisually perceivable to the user.

On the basis of such visually perceived information, the user can obtaina particular desired information. Hence, relying on that information,the user operates his or her terminal device 51 b so as to transmit thecheck bit number printed on the afore-said communication card 2 b to thereceived information processing means 33 b of the hidden-imagetransmission system 3 b through the telecommunication system 4 b, sothat the user can receive and enjoy an appropriate service. In thisregard, it is to be noted that, if one and the same check bit number ofthe communication card 2 b is transmitted twice, the receivedinformation processing means 33 b will refuse to receive such duplicateinformation data, as similar to the above-described basic concept of thefirst inventive aspect as well as the above-described basic concept ofthe second inventive aspect.

It is also noted that a processing of customers' information by theforegoing received information processing means 33 b may be executed insubstantially the same manner as in the previously described basicconcept of the first inventive aspect and the previously described basicconcept of the second inventive aspect.

As described above, in accordance with the present modified embodimentof the basic concept of second inventive aspect, the informationprocessing system 3 b operates to process any information intended forcommunication purpose into a hidden image data and combine that hiddenimage data with a main image data so as to create a composite imagedata, after which, the information processing system 3 b transmits suchcomposite image data to each of the image display/recognition systems 5b, 5 b, . . . On the side of the users, a main image is indicated on thedisplay of the user's terminal unit 51 b, and also an informationintended for particular communication purpose is indicated as a hiddenimage 91 b in that main image. The hidden image 91 b is made visible bythe optical medium 23 b of the foregoing communication card 2 b, so thata desired communication data can be imparted to the user.

In accordance with the above-described modified mode of the basicconcept of the second inventive aspect, it is to be appreciated that thefollowing advantages are attainable as similar to the previouslydescribed basic concept of the first inventive aspect and the previouslydescribed basic concept of the second inventive aspect.

(1) Any information is not described in the optical medium 23 b of thecommunication card 2 b, and that a communication data can be perceivedvisually only in the presence of a hidden image 91 b indicated on thedisplay of the user's terminal unit 51 b, hence providing a highconfidentiality of an information to be hidden in secrecy.

(2) The hidden image data can be created on the side of the hidden imagetransmission system in any desired manner, which is advantageous interms of providing a high freedom of changes of the hidden imageintended for communication.

(3) In accordance with the basic concept of the second inventive aspect,it is possible to display any moving image as a hidden image, ifdesired.

[Another Basic Concept of the Present Inventive Aspects]

The above description so far has been dedicated to the basic concept ofthe first inventive aspect, the basic concept of the second inventiveaspect, and the modified mode of such basic concept of the secondinventive aspect. Now, as another basic concept of those inventiveaspects of the present invention, an off-line system may be arranged inthe systems and arrangements described above. Namely, in accordance withanother basic concept of the foregoing inventive aspects, the hiddenimage transmission system may be arranged such that an informationintended for particular communication purpose is processed as a hiddenimage data, then, the hidden image data is combined with or incorporatedin a main image data so as to create a composite image data, afterwhich, such composite image data is stored in a recording or memorymedium, such as video tape, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, or DVD, and then, thememory medium is delivered to a particular destination where an imagedisplay/recognition system is provided, so that the image data stored inthe memory medium can be reproduced and displayed by a user's terminaldevice having an image display/recognition system, and also, a hiddenimage in the displayed image can be made visible by means of a piecethat has been distributed to a user, thereby giving an informationintended for particular communication purpose to the user.

In that case, in order to receive an information from the user, anelectronic mail or an ordinary postal mail may be used.

In the present another embodiment, the hidden image data transmittedfrom the hidden image transmission system and the piece to bedistributed to user may be the same as the hidden image data and thepiece used in the previously described first and third embodiments.

Accordingly, the present another embodiment can achieve the same effectsand advantages as in the first and third embodiments.

[First Inventive Aspect]

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrative of one exemplary mode of communicationcard system in accordance with the first inventive aspect. In thepresent mode, the first inventive aspect is hereby defined to refer to asystem which is operable in substantially the same way as describedpreviously to cause the display of the user's terminal unit to indicatean image in a predetermined color tone(s), whereby a hidden image in theoptical medium of a first communication card is made visuallyperceivable, so that a given information in the optical medium of thefirst communication card can be provided to the user. It is noted that,with regard to each of constituent elements of the present firstinventive aspect which are identical to those of the previouslydescribed basic concept of first inventive aspect, a description will bemade thereof along with the same designation as that used in the basicconcept of first inventive aspect.

As shown in FIG. 11, a communication card system 101 in accordance withone embodiment of the present first inventive aspect is arrange suchthat, on the side of an entrepreneur (information sender) 103, there areprovided a first communication card 2 on which are printed variouspertinent marks (for example, an exclusive lucky number 22 without anyother identical number thereto, URLs 24, 25, the name of the card, andso forth), and a first information processing system 3, whereas, on theside of a user, is provided a user's terminal device 51. It is notedthat what is described as “communication card system 101” hereinaftermay also include any system in which are provided a first communicationcard 2 bearing various pertinent marks printed thereon (for example, anexclusive lucky number 22 without any other identical number thereto,URLs 24, 25, the name of the card, and so forth), and a firstinformation processing system 3, on the side of an entrepreneur(information sender) 103.

Further, such definition of communication card system 101 may alsoextend to any arrangement which is only composed of: the firstcommunication card 2 bearing the lucky number 22 and/or the URLs 24, 25printed thereon; and the first information processing system 3.

In this context, the first communication card 2 which the entrepreneur(information sender) 103 has to prepare may be designed and arranged asshown in FIG. 2, wherein a sheet, on which are printed particular URLs24, 25 as well as marks 22 including particular letters, graphics andsymbols, is provided, in a local area thereof, with an optical medium 23where a hidden image intended for particular communication purpose isplotted. Also, on other remaining area of the first communication card 2than the said local area having the optical medium 23, the followingphrase may be printed for instance: “Step 1—Access to the above address,Step 2—Access to the homepage, Step 3—Place this chance card on yourdisplay monitor, and incredible! you will see the letters “You Win”floating from the card.”.

The first information processing system 3, which is used on the side ofthe entrepreneur (information sender) 103, is capable of transmission ofan information input image data, with such an arrangement that, afterhaving transmitted such information input image data, the processingsystem 3 per se, upon receipt of a collected information written in thatinformation input image data, will effect transmission of an imageoutput data for causing emission of a color tone(s) adapted to makevisible a hidden image in the foregoing optical medium, while at thesame time, classifying the afore-said collected information in apredetermined way. As described previously, the foregoing firstprocessing system 3 may be owned by the entrepreneur (informationsender) 103 or by other party, which does not matter in the presentmode. At any rate, the first processing system 3 may be any suitablekind of system insofar as it has the above-described functions and alsoallows the entrepreneur (information sender) to use the functions.

The user's terminal device 51, which is operated by the user, requiresan information input means for allowing input of any desired informationdata, a display means for displaying an information input image data orany other data to be displayed, and a processing means for executingvarious required controls and information processing. This user'sterminal device 51 may also be owned by the user himself or herself, orbe owned by other person. At any rate it may be any suitable terminalunit that enables the user to realize all the pertinent functionsdescribed above.

Now, a description will be made of operation of the above-describedcommunication card system. First of all, what is to be done by theentrepreneur (information sender) 103 consists in one of the followingsteps: a step of distributing the first communication card 2 to users athis or her developing shops 103 a, . . . (Step 901), a step of enclosingthe card 2 with a magazine and distributing them to users (Step 902),and a step of enclosing the card 2 with a goods and distributing them tothe users (Step 903). It is noted here that the distribution of thefirst communication card 2 is not limited to those three steps, but mayfor example include one of the following steps: a step of attaching thecard 2 to a catalog, a step of sending the card 2 via a direct mail, anda step of attaching the card to a voucher or slip.

Then, each of the users activates a browser in his or her terminaldevice 51, and inputs into the browser the URLs 24, 25 described in thethus-distributed first communication card 2. As a result thereof, theuser's terminal device 51 gains access to the foregoing firstinformation processing system 3 (Step 904), so that a particularinformation input image data is downloaded from the first informationprocessing system 3 to the user's terminal device 51 and then indicatedon the display of the terminal device (Step 905). Thus, as shown in FIG.11, an information input image 110 appears on the display of the user'sterminal device 51.

The user inputs a required information in the information input imageindicated on the display through an input means (not shown). Afterhaving inputted all required items of information therein, the userclicks on a send button in the information input image, whereupon theinformation thus collected is transmitted from the user's terminaldevice 51 to the information processing system 3. It is noted here that,in the present first inventive aspect, the inputting process in theinformation input image is not confined to the meaning of collectinginformation only, but it can refer to the act of operating appropriateroutines in the image input data, which for example involves inputtinginformation in a questionnaire, obtaining a personal data, obtaining ane-mail address, replying to a quiz, playing a game, operating a pointerwith respect to notice of goods, or the like. In any case, the inputtingprocess may be taken to mean all appropriate inputting actions in theinformation input image. In all descriptions hereinafter, the inputtingprocess should have the same meaning as defined in the foregoingmanners.

Upon receiving the foregoing collected information, the firstinformation processing system 3 effects transmission of an image outputdata (Step 906).

As a result thereof, as shown in FIG. 11, an image 111 is indicated onthe display of the foregoing user's terminal device 51 in a colortone(s) based on the foregoing image output data.

Then, the user brings the foregoing first communication card 2 tocontact upon the image 111 being indicated on the display (Step 907),whereupon the hidden image in the optical medium 23 of the firstcommunication card 2 is made visible, thus rendering that hidden imagevisually perceivable to the user (i.e. the image 112 in FIG. 11). In theillustrated mode, it is seen that the hidden image in the optical medium23 of the first communication card 2 is visualized in the form of thefollowing phrase: “Big Win, Congratulations”.

Also, the first information processing system 3 operates to classify andorganize the foregoing collected information in a preprogrammed way, andfurther construct a database on the basis thereof. In this regard, forexample, it may be arranged such that, if a user obtains prizes in alottery, the first information processing system 3 will operate, basedon the database, to extract a best data for enabling provision of a mostsuitable prize or service to the user, and supply such data to theentrepreneur (information sender) 103.

Thus, in accordance with the above-described embodiment of the firstinvective aspect, the first communication card 2 is given as acommunication tool to the user, and by means of such communication tool,the user can not merely obtain a given special benefit (as at thedesignation 800 in FIG. 11), but also can enjoy another benefits such asvarious kinds of advises and messages. (as at the designation 801 inFIG. 11). In addition thereto, the users are therefore motivated to usethe website concerned and purchase goods and services therefrom (as atthe designation 802), whereas the entrepreneur (information sender) 103can constrict a database concerning each of the users (as at thedesignation 810), so that, if for example the user has won a lottery,the entrepreneur can provide a most adequate gift or prize and serviceto the user, according to an individual information about thatparticular user, and that, through such processes, it is possible toincrease the number of users who are interested in the entrepreneur'swebsite and thus increase the rate of user's utilization of theentrepreneur's website (as at the designation 811 in FIG. 11), andfurther, it is possible to reactivate approach or access to the user byusing the database (as at the designation 812 in FIG. 11). Furthermore,those processes can effectively lead to an integration between suchentrepreneur's virtual activities and real commercial activities of theentrepreneur (as at the designation 813 in FIG. 11).

By employing such embodiment of the first inventive aspect of thepresent invention, it is possible for the entrepreneur to do thefollowing actions for instance: to invite the users to again visit anduse his or her shops (as at the designation 821 in FIG. 11); to makefull use of his or her database to give an adequate present to the users(as at the designation 822 in FIG. 11); to give a discount to the users(as at the designation 823 in FIG. 11); and to achieve a businessagreement through those appealing activity steps (as at the designation824 in FIG. 11).

The above description of the present embodiment of the first inventiveaspect is dedicated to an example of goods selling activities, but, thisis not limitative. For further example, the present embodiment allowsits use for a research based on questionnaire, a market research, and,not to mention, for other business aspects including an attempt toincrease member registration of the users.

[The Second Inventive Aspect]

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a communication card system in accordancewith one embodiment of the second inventive aspect of the presentinvention. In this respect, as stated previously, the term, “the secondinventive aspect”, refers to a system for causing a main image data,which has been received in the user's terminal device, to indicate onthe afore-stated display means, while simultaneously causing a data ofhidden image to indicate on that display means in an invisible state,and also allowing such hidden image appearing on the display means to bevisually perceivable by means of the afore-stated second communicationcard, so that a certain information can be provided to customers throughuse of the communication card. It is noted that, with regard to each ofconstituent elements of the present second inventive aspect which areidentical to those of the previously described bases respectively offirst and second inventive aspects, a description will be made thereofalong with the same designations as those used in the basic concepts offirst and second inventive aspects.

As shown in FIG. 12, a communication card system 102 in accordance withone embodiment of the present second inventive aspect is arranged suchthat, on the side of an entrepreneur (information sender) 103, there areprovided a second communication card 2 a on which are printed variouspertinent marks (for specific example, an exclusive lucky number 22without any other identical number thereto, URLs 24, 25, the name of thecard, the explanation of the card, and so forth), and a secondinformation processing system 3 a, whereas, on the side of a user, isprovided a user's terminal device 51 a. It is noted that what isdescribed as “communication card system 201” hereinafter may alsoinclude any system in which are provided the second communication card 2a bearing various pertinent marks printed thereon (for example, anexclusive lucky number 22 without any other identical number thereto,URLs 24, 25, the name of the card, and so forth), and the thirdinformation processing system 3 a, on the side of an entrepreneur(information sender) 103.

In this context, the second communication card 2 a, which theentrepreneur (information sender) 103 has to prepare, may be designedand arranged such that a sheet, on which are printed particular URLs 24,25 as well as marks including particular letters, graphics and symbols(for example, the lucky number 22 a, the URLs 24, 25, and so forth),has, provided in a localized area thereof, an optical medium 23 a wherea hidden image intended for particular communication purpose is plotted.Also, on that second communication card 2 a, it is preferable to printthe following phrase, as another mark, “When you access to the URLprinted on this card 2 a, an image appears on the display of user'sterminal unit 51. Then, place the card 2 a on such image, and you willsee a graphic and letters”.

The second information processing system 3 a, which is provided on theside of the entrepreneur (information sender) 103, is capable oftransmission of an information input image data to user(s), with such anarrangement that, after having transmitted such information input imagedata to the user(s), the processing system 3 a per se, upon receipt of acollected information written or inputted in that information inputimage data, will operate to process any information to be presented tocustomers or users into a hidden image data and combine or incorporatethat hidden image data with or in a main image data so as to create acomposite image data, and the system 3 a is further not only capable oftransmission of an image output data for causing only a main image inthe foregoing main image data to be indicated in a visible manner, whilecausing the foregoing hidden image data to be indicated in an invisiblemanner; but also arranged such that the foregoing collected information,which is loaded therein, will be classified into particular data in apredetermined way. This second processing system 3 a may be owned by theentrepreneur (information sender) 103 or may not be owned by thatentrepreneur (information sender) 103, which does not matter insofar asthe system 3 a has any functions that can be used by any user.

On the other hand, the image display/recognition system 5, which isprovided by the user, includes an information input means (a keyboard),a display means for displaying the information input image data andother data to be displayed (a display), and a processing means forexecuting various required controls and processing various data ofinformation. This image display/recognition system 5 may or may not beowned by a particular user, or alternatively may be a suitable system ofother user's insofar as it can be used by any user who so desires.

With regard to the above-described communication card system, adescription will now be made of the case where it is used by a user ofregistered member.

At first, the entrepreneur (information sender) 103 prepares a greatnumber of the second communication cards 2 a.

When the user goes to a shop(s) 103 a kept by the entrepreneur(information sender) 103, or other associated shop(s) 103 a, and answersa questionnaire or applies for registration of membership, the secondcommunication card 2 a is sent to the user, as a registered membershipcard, from the entrepreneur (information sender) 103 (Step 911).

As a nature of such membership card, the second communication card 2 ashould preferably bear an attractive phrase printed thereon, such as thefollowing phrase: “For example, when you access to the URLs 24, 25 givenin the second communication card 2 a and input a lucky number, you maywin a nice gift.” It is noted here that such second communication card 2a should not contain any lucky number 22 a identical to other luckynumber contained in another second communication card.

Now, the user activates the browser in his or her terminal unit 51 a,then inputs into the browser the URL 24 or the URL 25 which appears onthe second communication card 2 a, and executes all required processesand operations.

Then, a connection is established between the user's terminal device 51a and the second information processing system 3 a, so that the user'sterminal device 51 a can load some information data, such as a datatitled by “New Goods Information”, “Invitation to New Campaign”,“Registration for New Services”, or the like, and also obtain aninformation input image data (Step 912).

Thus, for example, the user's terminal device 51 a displays an image ofthe foregoing information about the “New Goods Information”, “Invitationto New Campaign”, “Registration for New Services” or the like, whileemitting sounds associated therewith, or alternatively indicates theinformation input image 121 on the display thereof (Step 913).

The user inputs the lucky number 22 a into the information input image121, for example, and clicks on a send button. It is noted that thedescription in this embodiment relates to such input of the lucky number22 a, but, this is not limitative, and, likewise as in the firstinventive aspect, the present second embodiment may allow for inputtingof other various required information data and enabling requiredoperations based thereon.

The information data thus inputted and collected (or the lucky number)is transmitted from the user's terminal device 51 a to the secondinformation processing system 3 a.

Upon receipt of the thus-transmitted information data (or the luckynumber), the afore-said second information processing system 3 aexecutes a required processing for a lottery, and processes a data onthe result of that lottery into a hidden image data, after which, thesystem 3 a combines that hidden image data with a main image data tocreate an image output data, and then transmits the image output data tothe user's terminal device 51 a.

The user's terminal device 51 a, when having received such image outputdata thus transmitted from the second information processing system 3 a,indicates the main image data on the above-stated display thereof, whileat the same time indicating the hidden image data in an invisible mannerupon the display thereof (Step 914). Hence, as shown in FIG. 12, basedon that hidden image data, the terminal device 51 a indicates a hiddenimage 122 on the display thereof.

Now, the second communication card 2 a is brought to contact upon suchhidden image 122 being indicated on the display of the foregoing user'sterminal device 51 a (Step 915), whereupon, the hidden image 122 is madevisible clearly due to the second communication card 2 a, so that, asshown in FIG. 2, a visualized image 123 now appears on the screen fromthat hidden image. As far as the FIG. 2 is concerned, the visualizedimage 123 consists of the letters “Big win!” and “Congratulations.” intwo lines, by way of example.

Thus, in accordance with the above-described embodiment of the secondinvective aspect, the second communication card 2 a is given as acommunication tool to the user, and by way of such communication tool,the user can not merely obtain a given special benefit (as at thedesignation 800 in FIG. 12), but also can enjoy another benefits such asvarious kinds of advises and messages. (as at the designation 801 inFIG. 12). In addition thereto, the users are therefore motivated to usethe entrepreneur's website(s) and purchase goods and services therefrom(as at the designation 802 in FIG. 12), whereas the entrepreneur(information sender) 103 can construct a database concerning each of theusers, so that, if for example the user has won a lottery, theentrepreneur can provide a most adequate gift or prize and service tothe user, according to an individual information about that particularuser, and that, through such processes, it is possible to increase thenumber of users who are interested in the entrepreneur's website andthus increase the rate of user's utilization of the website (as at thedesignation 811 in FIG. 12), and further, it is possible to reactivateapproach or access to the user by using the database (as at thedesignation 812 in FIG. 12). Furthermore, those processes caneffectively lead to an integration between such entrepreneur's virtualactivities and entrepreneur's real commercial activities (as at thedesignation 813 in FIG. 12).

By employing such embodiment of the second inventive aspect of thepresent invention, it is possible for the entrepreneur to do thefollowing actions for instance: to induce the users to again access anduse his or her shops (as at the designation 821 in FIG. 12); to makefull use of his or her database to give an adequate present to the users(as at the designation 822 in FIG. 12); to give a discount to the users(as at the designation 823 in FIG. 12); and to achieve a businessagreement through those appealing activity steps (as at the designation824 in FIG. 12).

Further, with the present embodiment of the second inventive aspect, itis possible not only to carry out a long-term campaign to allow theusers to positively make access to the entrepreneur's website(s) evenafter their membership registrations, but also to establish a demandchain management, thereby being able to attain advertisements andco-sponsorship charges from active websites having a considerable numberof registered members and/or other entrepreneurs.

The above description of the present embodiment of the second inventiveaspect is dedicated to an example of membership card, but, this is notlimitative. For further example, the present embodiment allows its usefor a research based on questionnaire as well as for a market research.

[The Third Inventive Aspect]

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a communication card system in accordancewith one embodiment of the third inventive aspect of the presentinvention. In the present embodiment, the term, “the third inventiveaspect”, refers to a system of the type which requires a user to utilizefirst and second communication cards in combination, such that utilizingthe first communication card for the display of the user's terminaldevice causes emission of a predetermined color tone(s) therefrom,whereas, utilizing the second communication card for that terminaldevice causes indication of a hidden image therefrom, so that the hiddenimage in the optical medium of the first communication card can beperceived visually, or the hidden image indicated on the display can beperceived visually through the optical medium of the secondcommunication card, thereby imparting to the users or customers either acertain information in the optical medium of the first communicationcard or a certain information in a hidden image indicated on thedisplay. It is noted that, with regard to each of constituent elementsof the present third inventive aspect which are identical to those ofthe previously described bases respectively of first and secondinventive aspects, a description will be made thereof, basically alongwith the same designations as those used in the basic concept of firstinventive aspect and the first inventive aspect as well as in the basicconcept of second inventive aspect and the second inventive aspect.

As shown in FIG. 13, a communication card system 301 in accordance withan embodiment of the present third inventive aspect is arranged suchthat, on the side of an entrepreneur (information sender) 103, there areprovided a first communication card 2, a second communication card 2 a,wherein, on those two communications 2 and 2 a, various pertinent marksare printed (for example, an exclusive check bit number (lucky number)22 without any other identical number thereto, URLs 24, 25, the name ofthe card, the explanation of the card, and so forth), and a thirdinformation processing system 3 a, whereas, on the side of a user, isprovided a user's terminal device 51 a. Further, in this particularembodiment of the third inventive aspect, there is provided aconfirmation card 2 c on the side of the entrepreneur (informationsender) 103. It is noted that what is described as “communication cardsystem 301” hereinafter may also include any system in which areprovided the first and second communication cards 2 and 2 a each havingvarious pertinent marks printed thereon (for example, an exclusive luckynumber 22 without any other identical number thereto, URLs 24, 25, thename of the card, description of the card, and so forth), and the thirdinformation processing system 3 c, on the side of an entrepreneur(information sender) 103.

Any further explanation is omitted regarding the first communicationcard 2 and the second communication card 2 a, as they have beendescribed previously. The foregoing confirmation card 2 c is formed onlyin a localized part of the optical medium 23 a of the secondcommunication card 2 a.

The afore-said third information processing system 3 c is capable oftransmission of an information input image data to user(s), with such anarrangement that, after having transmitted such information input imagedata to the user(s), the processing system 3 c per se, upon receipt of acollected information written or inputted in that information inputimage data, will operate to combine a hidden image data with aninformation output data for causing generation of color tone(s)which canmake visible that hidden image in the foregoing optical medium, or witha main image data to be imaged and indicated on display, so as to createan image output data for causing only a main image in the afore-saidmain image data to be indicated in a visible manner, while causing theafore-said hidden image data to be indicated in an invisible manner, andcause transmission of such image output data, while simultaneously,classifying the foregoing collected information, which has been loadedtherein, into particular data in a predetermined way.

On the other hand, the user's terminal device 51 includes an informationinput means (a keyboard), a display means for displaying the informationinput image data and other data to be displayed (a display), and aprocessing means for executing various required controls and processingvarious data of information. As far as the present embodiment isconcerned, such user's terminal device 51 is a cellular phone having acolor display, which shall be described hereinafter.

A description will now be made of the abovementioned communication cardsystem 301. The description on that communication card system 301 willbe based upon the case where it is applied to a home-delivery service.

At first, the entrepreneur (information sender) 103 manages ahome-delivery service, and, when receiving a first order placed by auser for a goods, the entrepreneur 103 delivers the ordered goods,accompanied by the first communication card 2, to the user (Step 931).

Then, the user, who refers to the URLs 24, 25 appearing on the firstcommunication card 2, makes access, based on the URLs, to theinformation processing system 3 c of the entrepreneur (informationsender) 103 through his or her terminal device (i.e. cellular phone) 51,and operates that user's terminal device (cellular phone) 51 to cause agiven input image data to load thereto from the foregoing thirdinformation processing system 3 c, thereby causing the input image datato indicate on the display, and thereafter, the user uses the keyboardto input a required information data into the image for inviting theuser to input the information data thereinto, wherein such image isindicated on the display and associated with the afore-said informationinput image data. The information data, which has been inputted in thatway and thus collected, is transmitted to the foregoing thirdinformation processing system 3 c. Upon having received such collectedinformation, the third information processing system 3 c transmits tothe user's terminal device (cellular phone) 51 an image data for causingemission of a predetermined color tone(s).

Responsive thereto, the user's terminal unit (cellular phone) 51operates to emit a color tone from the display thereof according to theimage output data transmitted from the third information processingsystem 3 c. The user brings the afore-stated first communication card 2to contact on the display of the terminal unit, so that he or she canvisually perceive the hidden image in the optical medium 23 of the firstcommunication car 2. In the present embodiment, the hidden image in theoptical medium 23 is the phrase “¥500. OFF”, which shall be used fordescription hereinafter.

The user places a second telephone order with the entrepreneur torequest home-delivery of a goods (Step 932). Then, the entrepreneur(information sender) 103, or a manager of the home-delivery service,gives a confirmation card 2 c to a deliveryman who in turn goes out withthat card for delivery of the ordered goods to the user (Step 933).Then, the deliveryman hands the ordered goods over to the user, and alsochecks on the first communication card 2 by means of the confirmationcard 2 c (Step 933). When having checked and seen the image “¥500.OFF”indicated on that card 2 through the confirmation card 2 c, thedeliveryman receives a ¥500.-discounted amount in cash from the user. Atthis point, the deliveryman also receives the first communication card 2from the user and hands a second communication card 2 a over to thatuser, wherein the second communication card 2 a serves as an originalmembership card in place of the first communication card 2 (Step 933).

The user places a third telephone order with the entrepreneur via theuser's terminal device (cellular phone) 51 (Step 934). At this stage,the user inputs a lucky number of the second communication card 2 awhich is the original membership card as stated above, and also inputsother required data. When the user transmits the thus-inputtedinformation data to the third information processing system 3 c, thehidden image is indicated on the display of the user's terminal device(cellular phone) 51.

Then, the user puts the second communication card 2 a on the hiddenimage being indicated on the display of the user's terminal device(cellular phone) 51, and checks to see how that hidden image isindicated on the display. In this regard, the indicated hidden image maybe the phrase “¥700.OFF”, which shall be used as one examplehereinafter.

On the other hand, the entrepreneur or a home-delivery service company(information sender) 103 instructs its deliveryman to deliver an orderedgoods to the user, together with the confirmation card 2 c. At thispoint, the deliveryman of that home-delivery service company asks theuser to operate the user's terminal device (cellular phone) 51 toindicate the hidden image on its display. Then, the deliveryman uses theconfirmation card 2 c to check and see what is the hidden image in thedisplay, and ascertains that the hidden image is indicated as “¥700.OFF”therein, through the card 2 c, so that the deliveryman collects anamount obtained by subtracting ¥700. from a fixed price.

When the user places a fourth telephone order with the entrepreneur, thetransaction between the user and entrepreneur should be done in the sameway as described above.

According to the communication card system 301 in this particularembodiment of the third inventive aspect, the third informationprocessing system 3 c may also execute the following processing: Namely,the third information processing system 3 c may execute programs forcausing: membership registration; announcement of new goods;announcement of new services; announcement of other information;execution of questionnaire; classification of results of suchquestionnaire in a predetermined classification way; provision of games;and processing of a lottery for determining win or miss of the lottery.

[Modified Embodiment of the Third Inventive Aspect]

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrative of a communication card system inaccordance with a modified embodiment of the third inventive aspect ofthe present invention.

The communication card system 401 in the present modified embodiment ofthird inventive aspect is different from the above-described embodimentof the third inventive aspect, in that, in addition to the foregoinghidden image data transmitted from the third information processingsystem 3 c, there are provided a data for causing indication of aconfirmation finish button and an exchange completion button in avisualized image associated with the hidden image, so that selecting andclicking on one of the confirmation finish button and exchangecompletion button is transmitted between the user's terminal unit 51 andthe third information processing system 3 c. This is a feature of thepresent modified embodiment, but other arrangement and constructionthereof is identical to those of the previously described embodiment ofthe third inventive aspect.

Namely, in this particular modified mode, at the step of placing thethird order, the user operates the user's terminal device (cellularphone) 51 to place the third order with the entrepreneur, at which time,the user inputs required information data (for example, the luckynumber) and other data if any. Then, the third information processingsystem 3 c executes a lottery processing and transmits a result of thelottery in the form of hidden image to the user's terminal unit(cellular phone) 51.

When receiving such hidden image data, upon the display of the user'sterminal device 51, the following images are indicated: a hidden image55, a confirmation finish button 56, a warning sentence 57, and anexchange completion button 58.

Then, a deliveryman, who works for the entrepreneur (information sender)or the home-delivery service company 103, brings the confirmation card 2c, for instance, to contact on the hidden image being indicated on thedisplay of the user's terminal device 51, and checks to see what is avisualized image of the hidden image. After confirming the visualizedimage of hidden image, the deliveryman operates the keyboard to depressor click on the confirmation button 56. At this point, if the user winsa lottery or gets a discount for instance, the deliveryman operates thekeyboard to depress or click on the exchange completion button 58. Allthe information data associated with those operations are transmittedfrom the user's terminal device (cellular phone) 51 to the thirdinformation processing system 3 c. This system and arrangementeffectively enable the third information processing system 3 c to easilyascertain and complete all necessary services to users who win thelottery, by making reference to the lucky number, which therefore notonly eliminates any redundant services to the users, but also insures toprovide required services to the users.

As described above, the communication card system 401 in accordance withthe present modified embodiment of the third inventive aspect has theadvantage that the third information processing system 3 c effectivelychecks on and completes all necessary services to users who win alottery, by making reference to a pertinent lucky number, whichtherefore precludes the entrepreneurs from doing any redundant servicesand insures to provide all required services to the users.

[Fourth Inventive Aspect]

FIGS. 15 to 19 are intended to illustrate a communication system inaccordance with an embodiment of the fourth inventive aspect of thepresent invention.

In the present embodiment, FIG. 15 is a block diagram for showing thecommunication system in accordance with the embodiment of the fourthinventive aspect.

As shown in the FIG. 15, generically stated, the communication system 1d in the present embodiment of fourth inventive aspect is comprised of:a web-based information transmission/processing device 3 d; a pluralityof user's terminal devices 5 d, 5 d, . . . ; and a telecommunicationsystem 4 d, such as an Internet, which can establish a connectionbetween the web-based information transmission/processing device 3 d andthose user's terminal devices 5 d, 5 d, . . . .

In this respect, generically stated, the web-based informationtransmission/processing device 3 d comprises: an image transmissionserver 31 d; a received information processing server 32 d; and aninformation setting server 33 d.

While not shown, such image transmission server 31 d is provided with aplurality of central processing units, main memories, input/outputinterfaces, hard disc devices, telecommunication devices, units of LAN(local area network), and so forth. The hard disc devices in that imagetransmission server 31 d each has, stored in memory, an operating systembased on a given language and an application program for causingtransmission of an image.

In the main memories of the image transmission server 31 d, theoperating system in each hard disc device is expanded and stored, sothat the central processing unit can execute the operating system toprovide a basic operation in a predetermined manner, and further, animage transmission application program, which is installed in the harddisc device, is expanded and stored in the main memory, so that thecentral processing unit can execute that image transmission applicationprogram upon the operating system, thereby enabling execution ofoperation for the image transmission stated above.

The foregoing received information processing server 32 d is, though notshown, also provided with a plurality of central processing units, mainmemories, input/output interfaces, hard disc devices, telecommunicationdevices, units of LAN, and so forth. The hard disc devices in that imagetransmission server 32 d each has, stored in memory, an operating systembased on a given language and an application program for causingtransmission of an image.

In the main memories of the received information processing server 32 d,the operating system in each hard disc device is expanded and stored, sothat the central processing unit can execute the operating system toprovide a basic operation in a predetermined manner, and further, animage transmission application program, which is installed in the harddisc device, is expanded and stored in the main memory, so that thecentral processing unit can execute that image transmission applicationprogram upon the operating system, thereby enabling execution ofoperation for the image transmission stated above.

The afore-said information setting server 33 d is also provided with aplurality of central processing units, main memories, input/outputinterfaces, hard disc devices, telecommunication devices, units of LAN,and so forth, though not shown, with such an arrangement that thecentral processing unit of that information setting server 33 d canexecute the operating system based on a given language to provide abasic operation in a predetermined manner, and further, execute areceived information processing application program upon the operatingsystem, thereby enabling execution of the above-described operation forsetting information.

While not shown, the foregoing image transmission server 31 d, theforegoing received information processing server 32 d, and the foregoinginformation setting server 33 d are connected with one another via a LANcable(s) 34 d.

In the present embodiment, the image transmission server 31 d should atleast be provided with a means capable of causing the afore-statedcentral processing unit to execute the afore-stated image transmissionapplication program so as to basically create: a hidden image data forcausing indication of a hidden image on a particular local area ofdisplay; and a filter image data for causing indication of a filterimage which emits a color tone for making the hidden image visible inother local area than such particular local area in the display, andalso capable of transmitting the hidden image data and filter image datato the telecommunication system 4 d at the address of the terminaldevice 5 d by which a user has made access to the image transmissionserver.

However, practically stated, the image transmission server 31 d shouldpreferably be provided with: a function capable of creating the hiddenimage data for causing indication of a hidden image on a particularlocal area of display and the filter image data for causing indicationof a filter image which emits a color tone for making the hidden imagevisible in other local area than such particular local area in thedisplay; a function capable of creating an information input image dataand transmitting such information input image data to thetelecommunication system 4 d at the address of the terminal device 5 dby which the user has made access to the image transmission server; anda means capable of receiving a collected information data that has beencollected from the user in regard to a required information requestedfor input in the thus-transmitted information input image, and, uponreceipt of such collected information data, transmitting the foregoinghidden image data and filter image data to the telecommunication system4 d at the address of the user's terminal device 5 d that has gainedaccess to the image transmission server. Further, when having receivedthe collected information data about the required information in theafore-said information input image data, the image transmission server31 d operates to transfer such collected information data to theforegoing received information processing server 32 d.

The foregoing received information processing server 32 d is arrangedsuch that its central processing units operate to execute the receivedinformation processing application program so as to process theafore-said collected information in a predetermined processing mannerand make a database of the thus-processed information.

The foregoing information setting server 33 d is arranged such that itscentral processing units operate to execute the information settingapplication program, thereby providing a required means or processing tothe foregoing image transmission server 31 d and the foregoing receivedinformation processing server 32 d.

It is noted that the foregoing web-based informationtransmission/processing device 3 d may or may not be owned by theinformation sender, and at any rate, it may be any suitable device thatallows for communication between the information sender and the user(s)by use of the web-based information transmission/processing device 3 dand the user's terminal device 5 d.

Further, each of the foregoing user's terminal devices 5 d, 5 d, . . .may, for example, be a desktop personal computer (hereinafter, referredto as “personal computer” or “PC”), laptop PC, mobile computer (computerof mobile type), PDA, or any one of other various kinds of terminaldevices. In other words, the user's terminal device 51 may be any kindof terminal device insofar as it includes an information input means forallowing various relevant information to be inputted therein, a displaymeans for displaying information input image data and/or other data tobe indicated, and a processing means for processing various controls andinformation. In any case, the user's terminal device 5 d itself may beany suitable device insofar as it has an information input means forinputting various kinds of information data, a display means fordisplaying an information input image data and other data to be imagedand displayed, and a processing means for causing various requiredcontrols and processing the information data. Hereinafter, a descriptionon the user's terminal device 5 d will be based on a desktop-typepersonal computer.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing one example of arrangement of theuser's terminal device used for the communication system in accordancewith an embodiment of the fourth inventive aspect of the presentinvention.

As shown in the FIG. 16, the user's terminal device 51 d is for examplecomprised of: a main computer unit 51 d operable as a processing meansfor effecting various required processing controls and processinginformation data; a keyboard 52 and a mouse 53 which are operable as aninformation input means for inputting various kinds of the informationdata; and a display device 54 workable as a display means for indicatinga data to be imaged and displayed.

While not shown, the main computer unit 51 d is provided with a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a main memory, input/output interface, hard discdevice, and a bus line connecting those elements with one another. Harddisc devices in that main computer unit 51 d each has, stored in memory,an operating system and a browser program. The browser program is aprogram for allowing a user to browse a WWW through thetelecommunication system (Internet) 4 d.

When the foregoing main computer unit 51 d is switched on, the operatingsystem is expanded from the hard disc device to the main memory andstored therein, so that a basic operation is commenced, which in turncauses execution of the browser program, so that the browser program isexpanded from the hard disc device to the main memory and stored thereinand that the CPU processes the browser program stored in the mainmemory, thereby causing indication of a browser image on the displaydevice 54 d for enabling connection with the web informationtransmission/processing device 3 d.

When the main computer unit 51 d of the user's terminal device 5 d isnow placed in the above-described condition and the user operates thekeyboard 52 d to input a given URL in a given input window in thebrowser image indicated on the display device, the foregoing CPUoperates on the basis of the URL so as to gain access to the foregoingweb-based information transmission/processing device 3 d through thetelecommunication system 4 d, then loads a predetermined informationinput image data from the web-based information transmission/processingdevice 3 d, and causes indication of a corresponding information inputimage on the display device 54 d, with such an arrangement that, when aninformation data requested from the information input image have beeninputted from the keyboard 52 d and so forth, the thus-inputtedinformation data is transmitted to the web-based informationtransmission/processing device 3 d, and then, the aforementioned hiddenimage data and filter image data, which are transmitted to the maincomputer unit responsive to such inputted information data, are imagedand indicated on the display device 54 d, after which, the hidden imageis processed into a visually perceivable image, thereby making itpossible to impart an information intended for communication purpose tothe user.

With reference to FIGS. 17 to 20 in conjunction with FIGS. 15 and 16, adescription will now be made of operation of the above-constructedcommunication system.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the user'sterminal device of the communication system in accordance with thepresent embodiment. FIG. 18 is a flow chart illustrating the operationof the web-based information transmission/processing device of thecommunication system in the present embodiment. FIG. 19 is a diagramshowing an example of image indicated on the display device of theuser's terminal device of the communication system in the presentembodiment. FIG. 20 is a diagram showing another example of imageindicated on the display device of the user's terminal device of thecommunication system in the present embodiment.

First of all, the information sender operates the information settingserver 33 d of the web-based information transmission/processing device3 d to arrange that all setting procedures required for communicationwith the user are effected in the image transmission server 31 d and thereceived information processing server 32 d.

Responsive to such setting process, the image transmission server 31 doperates to create: a hidden image data for causing indication of ahidden image in a given local area of an image indicated on the display;and a filter image data for causing indication of a filter image thatemits a color tone for making visible the hidden image in other localarea than such given local area in the indicated image, whilesimultaneously creating an information input image data. Additionally,the server 31 d is provided with a function capable of creating aninformation input image data and transmitting such information inputimage data to the telecommunication system 4 d with an address of theterminal device 5 d by which the user has made access to the imagetransmission server; and a means capable of receiving a collectedinformation data that has been collected from the user in regard to arequired information requested for input in the thus-transmittedinformation input image, and, upon receipt of such collected informationdata, transmitting the foregoing hidden image data and filter image datato the telecommunication system 4 d with the address of the user'sterminal device 5 d that has gained access to the image transmissionserver.

Furthermore, the foregoing image transmission server 31 d is providedwith a function for receiving the collected information data regardingthe required information in the information input image data, and, uponreceipt of such collected information data, transferring that particularcollected information data to the foregoing received informationprocessing server 32 d.

Next, the information sender, who operates the web-basedinformation/processing device 3 d, uses various kinds of distributionmeans in order to notify the users of a URL for access to the web-basedinformation transmission/processing device 3 e.

Hereinafter, referring to FIGS. 17, 19 and 20, a description will bemade of operation of the user's terminal device 5 d.

At first, the user uses the keyboard 52 d to input the afore-stated URL,which he or she knows through the distribution means, into a given inputwindow of the browser image indicated on the display device 54 d of theuser's terminal device 5 d, and then uses the mouse 53 to click on a gobutton (at S101 in FIG. 17).

Responsive thereto, the CPU of the user's terminal device 5 d executesconnection processing for gaining access to the image transmissionserver 31 of the information processing system 3 (S102 in FIG. 17).Then, after having established connection with the afore-statedweb-based information transmission/processing device 3 d, the CPU ofuser's terminal device 5 d, first, executes a receiving and indicationprocessing which consists of the steps of: receiving an image data forcausing indication of an image of outline description; and thensubjecting such image data to imaging and indication on the displaydevice 54 d (S103 in FIG. 17).

As a result thereof, the image of outline description 110 is indicatedon the display device 54 d. This outline description image 110 is animage descriptive of brief explanation about what will be done betweenthe user and information sender, and also descriptive of a warningnotice, with a start button image 110 a given therein.

The CPU of the user's terminal device 5 d checks to ascertain whetherthe start button image 110 a is clicked on, or not (S104, “NO”, in FIG.17).

At this stage, when determining that such start button image 110 a hasbeen clicked on (S104, “YES”, in FIG. 17), the CPU of user's terminaldevice 5 d executes an information input image data receiving/displayingprocessing for allowing an information input image data to be receivedfrom the image transmission server 31 d of the web-based informationtransmission/processing device 3 d, and causing the information inputimage data to be imaged and indicated on the display device 54 d (S105in FIG. 17), whereupon an input standby state is provided for allowing auser to input a required information (S106, “NO”, in FIG. 17).

Then, an information input image 120 is indicated on the display device54 d, as shown in FIG. 19(b). This information input image 120 containsimage regions where, for example, the following information data are tobe inputted: user's name, address, e-mail address and permission, andalso contains a send (start) button image 120 a and a clear button image120 b.

At this point, let us assume that the user uses the keyboard 52 d and,if required, uses the mouse 53 d, so as to input all necessaryinformation data requested in the information input image 120 into allinput window images of that particular information input image 120, andthen clicks on the send (start) button image 120 a.

Then, the CPU of the afore-stated user's terminal device 5 d will detectsuch clicked-on state of the send (start) button image 120 a, deactivatethe input standby state stated above (S106, “YES”, in FIG. 17), andexecute processing for transmitting the foregoing inputted informationdata (collected information) to the web-based informationtransmission/processing device 3 d (S107 in FIG. 17).

In that case, when having completed such transmission processing, theCPU of the user's terminal device 5 d receives the above-stated hiddenimage data and filter image data which are transmitted from theforegoing web-based information transmission/processing device 3 d, andexecutes a filter image data receiving and displaying processing forcausing indication of those image data on the display device 54 d (S108in FIG. 17). With this processing, as shown in FIG. 19(c), an image ofinstruction for use 130, which is descriptive of how to use theindicated images, and a filter image 150 are indicated on the displaydevice 54 d. For example, in the instruction image 130, the followingexplanatory sentence is indicated: “Please drag the filter image 150 andoverlay it on the hidden image 140, and you can see letters andgraphics.”

It is noted that the hidden image 140 is for example an image of oblongshape, which is indicated in an unclear manner and can not be visuallyperceived as to what is described or drawn therein.

It is also noted that the filter image 150 is for example an image ofoblong shape, which emits a color tone for making clearly visible apicture and/or letters given in the hidden image 140.

Further, it is to be noted that the CPU of the foregoing user's terminaldevice 5 d also checks on the clicked state of an end button (S109,“NO”, in FIG. 17), and, if the end button is clicked on (S109, “YES”, inFIG. 17), the CPU will complete the processing.

At the present stage, when the user uses the mouse 53 d to drag thefilter image 150, the CPU of the user's terminal device 54 d executesproper processing for causing such drag operation (from S109, “NO”, toS110 in FIG. 17).

In this context, let us again explain the first stage stated previously.That is, as shown in FIG. 20(a), at first, the instruction image 130,the hidden image 140 and the filter image 150 are indicated on theforegoing display device 54 d. Under that initial state, the user usesthe mouse 53 d to drag the filter image 150 on the display device 54 d,and such dragging operation is illustrated in FIG. 20(b).

And further, the user uses the mouse 53 d to keep dragging the filterimage 150 to the hidden image 140 and then overlays the former on thelatter, whereupon, as shown in FIG. 20(c), the hidden image 140 is madevisible clearly, which for example visually indicates: “Big Win,Congratulations.”.

Referring now to FIG. 18, an operation of the web-based informationtransmission/processing device 3 d will be described.

Upon request for connection from the user's terminal device 5 d, theweb-based information transmission/processing device 3 d starts andexecutes processing as shown in the flow chart of FIG. 18.

At first, the central processing unit in the image transmission server31 d of the web-based information transmission/processing device 3 dexecutes processing for transmitting the image data for outlinedescription and the information input data, which have been created asstated previously, to the telecommunication system 4 d, together with anaddress of the user's terminal device 5 d which has made access thereto(at S201 in FIG. 18), so that an input standby condition is set forallowing the user to input the necessary information required in theinformation input image data (at S202, “NO” in FIG. 18. In this case,“NO” is repeated.).

At this point, when having received the foregoing collected informationdata required in the foregoing information input image data from theuser's terminal device 5 d (at S202, “YES”, in FIG. 18), the centralprocessing unit of the image transmission server 31 d of the webinformation transmission/processing device transmits such collectedinformation data to the received information processing server 32 d viaLAN cable 34 d (at S203 in FIG. 18).

Thereafter, the central processing unit in the image transmission server31 d of the web-based information transmission/processing device 3 dcreates a hidden image data on the basis of a result of a certainlottery processing effected for instance, then transmits thethus-created hidden image data and a filter image data to thetelecommunication system 4 d, together with an address of the user'sterminal device 5 d (S204 in FIG. 18), and finally terminates thepresent processing.

On the other hand, the central processing unit in the receivedinformation processing server 32 d of the web-based informationtransmission/processing device 3 d operates to make a database of theforegoing collected information according to a predetermined process.

In accordance with the above-described embodiment of the presentinvention, it is to be appreciated that the filter image 150, which isindicated on the display device 54 d of the user's terminal device 5 dand emits a given color tone, may be overlaid on the hidden image 140indicated on the display device 54 d, thereby making that hidden imageclearly visible, which can provide a pleasure to the users, and suchpleasure can effectively induces the users to access a website of theentrepreneur, so that a customer database can be made smoothly, andfurther, it is possible to provide a communication system and web-basedinformation transmission/processing device which allow for integrationof the entrepreneur's website with a relevant shop(s) and/or a goodsthat the user has purchased.

In the present embodiment, the filter image 150 is an image having theabove-described optical property which emits a single color, but this isnot limitative. For example, the filter image may be a plurality ofimages of hamburgers to be advertised, which will be indicatedhorizontally and longitudinally to give a certain pattern on thedisplay, while emitting certain color tones from that pattern.

[Modified Embodiment of the Fourth Inventive Aspect]

FIGS. 21 and 22 illustrate a communication system in accordance with amodified embodiment of the fourth inventive aspect of the presentinvention. The FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a hidden image and a filterimage, which are indicated on the display device in accordance with thepresent modified embodiment of the fourth inventive aspect. FIGS. 21(a)and 21(b) illustrate the hidden image and the filter image,respectively. The FIG. 22 is a diagram showing the state where thefilter image is overlaid on the hidden image indicated on the displaydevice in accordance with the present modified embodiment of the fourthinventive aspect.

It is noted that the present modified embodiment of the foregoing fourthinventive aspect is characterized by creating: a hidden image data forcausing indication of a hidden image in a given local area of imageindicated on the display; and a filter image data for causing indicationof a filter image having a transmissive optical property which makesvisible the hidden image in other local area than such given local areaof image on the display, and then transmitting those hidden image dataand filter image to the user's terminal device, so that one visualizedimage can be indicated on the display. That is, the present modifiedembodiment features creation of both hidden image and filter image, butother arrangements and systems of the present modified embodiment areentirely identical to those of the previously described embodiments ofall the inventive aspects. Thus, it is noted that the communicationsystem 1 d shown in FIG. 15 and the user's terminal device 5 d shown inFIG. 16 will be used directly in the present modified embodiment of thefourth inventive aspect, and therefore, a description will be made onlyof difference in indicated images between the present modifiedembodiment and other previously described embodiments, and any furtherdescription is omitted on the common aspects between them.

Now, according to the present modified embodiment of the fourthinventive aspect, the central processing unit in the image transmissionserver 31 d operates to create: a hidden image data for causingindication of a hidden image in a given local area of image indicated onthe display; and a filter image data for causing indication of a filterimage having a transmissive optical property which makes visible thehidden image in other local area than such given local area of image onthe display. Also, in this embodiment, the image transmission server 31d of the foregoing web-based information transmission/processing device3 d operates to transfer and impart the hidden image data and filterimage data to the user's terminal device 5 d that has made accessthereto.

Responsive to such operations of the sever 31 d, the CPU in the maincomputer unit 51 d of the user's terminal device 5 d operates totransfer and impart the foregoing hidden image data and filter imagedata to the display device 54 d, so that those image data can beindicated on that display device 54 d. Accordingly, it is to be seenthat the hidden image 240 shown in FIG. 21(a) and the filter image 250shown in FIG. 21(b) are indicated on the display device 54 d.

Such filter image 250 is formed by a medium 250 a which has apredetermined area and a transmissive optical property. Specifically,the filter image 250 is formed by the medium 250 a of transmissiveoptical property, which has a light transmissive portion disposedtherein at a location corresponding to a display point where the hiddenimage 240 is formed and indicated on the basis of a hidden image dataamong other images being indicated on the display device 54 d of theforegoing user's terminal device 5 d. More specifically, the foregoingoptical medium 250 a may, for instance, be formed by a plurality oflight transmissive portions 250 b, . . . each having a dimensions of5.0-1 [mm](these light transmissive portions 250 b, . . . are indicatedin black in FIG. 21), which are so arranged as to permit light to betransmitted therethrough at a location corresponding to the displaypoint 240 a forming the hidden image 240 indicated on the basis of thehidden image data. It is noted here that, besides the light transmissiveportions 250 a . . . , the medium 250 a may be provided with a dummylight transmissive portion(s) in such a manner as to avoid itspreventing visualization of the hidden image, thereby increasing theconfidentiality and secrecy of communication. Furthermore, besides thelight transmissive portions 250 a . . . , the medium 250 a may bearranged such that a desired image is indicated therein to prevent thelight transmissive portions 250 a from being viewed, thereby increasingthe confidentiality and secrecy of communication.

Now, a description will be made of operation of the above-describedcommunication system in accordance with the present modified embodimentof the fourth inventive aspect. It is however noted that the informationsetting processes effected by the information sender and the process tonotify the user of URL are entirely identical to those of the previouslydescribed embodiments of the present invention, and thus, any furtherdescription thereon is omitted.

The user inputs the URL in a browser image indicated on the displaydevice 54 d of the user's terminal device 5 d, then establishesconnection of the user's terminal device 5 d with the image transmissionserver 31 d of the web-based information transmission/processing device3 d, and operates the terminal device 5 d such that, from the web-basedinformation transmission/processing device 3 d, a data on how to use thepresent communication system is downloaded thereto. Then, watchingimages indicated on the display device 54 d of the user's terminaldevice 5 d and listening to voices and sounds generated from the speakerof that terminal device 5 d, the user understands how to use the presentcommunication system.

Thereafter, when the user operates the terminal device 5 d for nextoperation step, the CPU in the main computer unit 5 Id of that terminaldeice 5 d executes required processing which consists in receiving aninformation input image data from the web-based informationtransmission/processing device 3 e and causing indication of theinformation input image data on the display device 54 d.

Then, with respect to information required in an information input imageindicated on the display device 54 d, the users inputs necessaryinformation data in the information input image, and thereafter, theuser's terminal device 5 d processes the thus-inputted information dataas a collected information and transmits it to the image transmissionserver 31 d of the web-based information transmission/processing device3 d. Upon receipt of the collected information, the image transmissionserver 31 d of web-based information transmission/processing device 3 dtransfers that collected information to the received informationprocessing server 32 d, while at the same time transmitting a hiddenimage data and a filter image data to the user's terminal device 5 d.

The CPU in the afore-stated main computer unit 51 d of the user'sterminal device 5 d transfers the hidden image data and filter imagedata, which have been transmitted from the foregoing image transmissionserver 31, to the display device 54 d, and effects display control suchthat a hidden image 240 and a filter image 250 are indicated on thatdisplay device 54 d so as not to overlap each other (see FIG. 21). As aresult thereof, the display device 54 d indicates the hidden image 204as shown in FIG. 21(a) and the filter image 250 as shown in FIG. 21 (b),thereon.

Then, the user uses the mouse 53 d to drag the filter image 250 shown inFIG. 21(b) and overlay it on the hidden image 240 shown in FIG. 21(a),whereupon the hidden image 240 and the filter image 250 overlap eachother to form one clearly visible image 260 as shown in FIG. 22.

As far as the shown modified embodiment is concerned, the visualizedimage 260 is indicated in the form of “figure of panda”. Suchvisualization of the visible image 260 is based on the reason that thedisplay device is controlled such that the location of luminous or lightemission points 240 a, 204 a, . . . of the hidden image 240 shown inFIG. 21(a) (which are indicated in black in that figure) are maintainedin a predetermined positional relation with the location of luminous orlight transmissive points 250 b, . . . of the optical medium 250 a ofthe filter image 250 shown in FIG. 21(b), thereby making visible thehidden image 240 in the form of “figure of panda” in black color, whichis therefore indicated as the visualized image 260 as shown in FIG. 22.

As described above, in accordance with the communication system 1 d, itis appreciated that the hidden image 240 and the filter image 250 areindicated separately from each other upon a same image being indicatedon the display device 54 d, and the filter image 250 is overlaid on thehidden image 240 by operation of user, thereby enabling the user tovisually perceive an information intended for particular communicationpurpose which is indicated on the display device 54 d of the user'terminal device 5 d.

In this connection, for example, the foregoing hidden image 240 may be agraphics of hamburgers to be advertised, such that a plurality of thehamburger pictures are orderly arranged in horizontal and longitudinaldirections to provide a certain pattern image, and an information dataintended for particular communication purpose (which is created by lightemitting points 240 a, . . . ) is indicated in such hamburger picturepattern, and that for example, the foregoing filter image 250 may alsobe the graphics of hamburgers to be advertised, such that a plurality ofthe hamburger pictures are orderly arranged in horizontal andlongitudinal directions to provide a certain pattern image, and thelight transmissive points 250 b thereof are located in correspondencewith the light emitting points 240 a, . . . in such hamburger picturepattern.

In that way, the user can perceive the information and thus can obtain agiven information on the basis of the perceived information. It is notedhere that processing of a customer' information, which is to be effectedby the afore-stated received information processing server 32 d, shouldbe done in the same way as that of the previously described embodimentof the fourth inventive aspect.

Accordingly, in accordance with the modified embodiment of the fourthinventive aspect, the image transmission server 31 d operates totransmit to the user's terminal device 5 d the hidden image data forcausing indication of a hidden image and the filter image data forcausing indication of a filter image, while on the user's side, thehidden image 240 and filter image 250 are indicated on the displaydevice 54 d, and the filter image data 250 can be overlaid on the hiddenimage 240 by the user, so that a data intended for particularcommunication purpose can be given to the user.

Such modified embodiment of the fourth inventive aspect also achievesthe same advantages as those of the previously described embodiment ofthe fourth inventive aspect.

Further, in accordance with the embodiment and modified embodiment ofthe present inventive aspect, the following advantages can be achieved:

(1) The hidden image 240 and the filter image 250 can be created in anydesired way on the side of the image transmission server 31 d, therebyattaining a high freedom for changing a image intended for particularinformation purpose.

(2)A moving hidden image can be indicated, and it is possible toeffectively render the hidden image perceivable visually.

[Another Embodiment of the Present Inventive Aspect]

The foregoing embodiments of the present inventive aspect and themodified embodiments thereof have been described on the basis ofoff-line system, but they may be arranged by an on-line system. Namely,in accordance with another embodiment of the present inventive aspect,the web-based information transmission/processing device 3 d may bearranged such that an information intended for particular communicationpurpose is processed as a hidden image data, then, a filter image datais created, which has an optical property that can optically match thathidden image data for visualization of a hidden image in the hiddenimage data, after which, such filter image data is stored in a recordingor memory medium, such as video tape, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, or DVD, andthen, the memory medium is delivered to the user's terminal device 5 d,so that an image data stored in the memory medium can be imaged andreproduced by the user's terminal device 5 d, which will in turn causeindication of the hidden image 240 and filler image 250 on the displaydevice 54 d of that user's terminal device 5 d, in which case,overlaying those two images on each other will result in making a hiddenimage visible clearly and thus giving an information intended forparticular communication purpose to the user. In that case, in order toreceive an information from the user, an electronic mail, a facsimile,or an ordinary postal mail may be used.

Accordingly, the present another embodiment can achieve the same effectsand advantages as in the previously described embodiment and modifiedembodiment of the present inventive aspect.

[Applied Example of the Present Invention]

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing how images are indicted in a communicationsystem in accordance with an applied example where the previouslydescribed embodiments of the present invention are applied to aparticular case to be stated below.

The communication system in the present applied example, as shown in theFIG. 23, also employs the communication system shown in FIG. 15 and theuser's terminal device 5 d shown in FIG. 16, and therefore, adescription is omitted about such hardware in the present appliedexample.

In accordance with the present applied example associated with thepreviously described embodiments of the present invention, it isarranged such that the web information transmission/processing device 3d first operates to provide an “outline description image” to the user'sterminal device 5 d, causing indication of such image on the display ofthe latter, then asking the user to cause indication of an “input imagefor inputting data in a questionnaire” thereon in order that necessaryinformation data may be collected from the user, after which, when theinformation data have been collected, the image on the display ischanged to an “image for gameplay”, and that, after the game has beenenjoyed and completed, the hidden image 140 and the filter image 150 arenext indicated on the display. Thus, when the game has been finished,the user operates the terminal device to overlay the filter image 150 onthe hidden image 140, wherein those two images are being indicated onthe display device 5 d, whereby, for example, the following imageappears: “Big Win, Congratulations.”

Referring now to FIG. 23, a specific description will be made of theabove-described communication system of the present applied example. Inthe FIG. 23, designation 54 denotes a display device of the user'sterminal device 5 d.

It is noted that the processing for setting information which is to beeffected by the information sender and the way for notifying the user ofURL are entirely identical to those of the previously describedembodiments of the present invention.

The user inputs the URL in a browser image indicated on the displaydevice 54 d of his or her terminal device 5 d, then establishesconnection of the terminal device 5 d with the image transmission server31 d of the web-based information transmission/processing device 3 d,and operates the terminal device 5 d to arrange that a data on how touse the present communication system is downloaded from the web-basedtransmission/processing device 3 d to that user's terminal device 5 d.Such operation results in the indication of an outline description image110 as shown in FIG. 23(a). Further, in addition to the outlinedescription image 110, the pertinent outline is simultaneously explainedvia voice from a speaker. Hence, the user can understand how to use thepresent communication system from the image 110 and the voice.

Then, when the user effects a next operation of his or her terminaldevice 5 d, the CPU of the main computer unit 51 d of that user'sterminal device 5 d operates to receive an information input image datafrom the web-based information transmission/processing device 3 d, andexecutes a processing for causing indication of that information inputimage data on the display device 54 d. As a result thereof, thereappears an information input image 120 on the display device 54 d, whichis for example representative of an input image for inputting data in aquestionnaire as shown in FIG. 23(b).

With respect to required information data requested in the indicatedinformation input image 120 on the display device 54 d of the foregoinguser's terminal device 5 d, the user inputs all necessary informationdata therein, with the result that the user's terminal device 5 dprocesses the thus-inputted information data as a collected informationand transmits the collected information to the image transmission server31 d of the web-based information transmission/processing device 3 d.Upon receipt of that collected information, the image transmissionserver 31 d of the web information transmission/processing device 3 dtransfers such collected information to the received informationprocessing server 32 d, while at the same time transmitting a gameprogram. In this case, as shown in FIG. 23(f), the game program may beselected from various game programs, such as a jigsaw puzzle program310, or an animation program 320 having a certain story and someselection points, for instance, which may be selected from a proper oneof the various game programs, depending on a result of questionnaire, apurpose of market research, and/or character.

A game data (the jigsaw puzzle program 310 for instance), which isselected and set by the information setting server 33 d, is transmittedfrom the image transmission server 31 d of the web informationtransmission/processing device 3 d to the user's terminal device 5 d.

When having received such game data, the CPU in the main computer unit51 d of the user's terminal device 5 d operates to expand the game dataand store it in a main memory, and executes the game program on thatmain memory. Then, there appears such game image 125 as shown in FIG.23(c) on the display device 54 d.

At this stage, the user uses the mouse 53 d and keyboard 52 d to enjoyplaying a game in the game image 125 indicated on the display device 54d. When the user has completed the game, in the game image 125, the CPUin the main computer unit 51 d of the user's terminal device 5 dcommunicates the completion of the game to the web informationtransmission/processing device 3 d.

Upon receipt of such communication, the image transmission server 31 dof the web-based information transmission/processing device 3 d executesa predetermined processing to effect a lottery, and transmits a filterimage data and a hidden image data to the user's terminal device 5 d,the hidden image data including a data associated a result of thelottery therein.

Then, the CPU in the main computer 51 d of the foregoing user's terminaldevice 5 d operates to transfer the hidden image data and filter imagedata, which have been transmitted from the foregoing image transmissionserver 31 d, to the display device 54 d, and instructs the displaydevice 54 d to indicate an image of instruction for use 130 which isdescriptive of how to use a filter image, a hidden image 140 and thefilter image 150 in one image indicated on the display device 54 d, asshown in FIG. 23(d), such that those three images do not overlap oneanother. Thus, as indeed shown in the FIG. 23(d), on the display device54 d, the instruction image 130 for filter image, the hidden image 140and the filter image 150 are indicated.

The user uses the mouse 53 d, as shown in FIG. 23(d), to drag the filterimage 150 and overlay it on the hidden image 140. Then, as shown in FIG.23(e), the filter image 150 is superposed or overlaid on the hiddenimages 140, whereupon, for example, one visualized image 160, “Big Win.Congratulations.” is indicated therefrom.

Thus, in accordance with the present applied example for the embodimentsof the present invention, it is to be appreciated that, in addition toinputting a data in questionnaire, the user can enjoy playing a game,and that, when the game is completed, a result of lottery is indicatedas the hidden image 140 on the display, while simultaneously, the filterimage 150 is indicated on the display in a spaced-apart and adjoiningrelation with that hidden image 140, thereby allowing the user tooverlay the filter image 150 on the hidden image 140 so as to causeindication of a visualized image 160 which enables the user to visuallynotice the result of lottery and thus gives a certain pleasure to theuser. This system indeed effectively induces the user to access awebsite(s) of the information sender, and further allows theentrepreneur to easily collect and obtain information about the user(s),which in turn allows him or her to easily construct a database ofcustomers. Additionally, it is possible to provide a communicationsystem and web-based information transmission/processing device whichenables the entrepreneur to integrate his or her website(s) withrelevant shop(s) and/or goods purchased by the user(s).

<Applicability For Industrial Uses>

As described above, in accordance with the inventions described inclaims 1 and 2, the first communication card is given as a communicationtool to the user, and by means of such communication tool, the user cannot merely obtain a given special benefit, but also can enjoy anotherbenefits such as various kinds of advises and messages. In additionthereto, the users are therefore motivated to use the entrepreneur'swebsite(s) and purchase goods and services therefrom, whereas theentrepreneur (information sender) can construct a database concerningeach of the users, so that, if for example the user has won a lottery,the entrepreneur can provide a most adequate gift or prize and serviceto the user, according to an individual information on that particularuser as well as to a preference of the user, and through such processes,it is possible to increase the number of users who are interested in theentrepreneur's website.

In accordance with the inventions described in claims 3 and 4, thesecond communication card is given as a communication tool to the user,and by way of such communication tool, the user can not merely obtain agiven special benefit, but also can enjoy another benefits such asvarious kinds of advises and messages. In addition thereto, the usersare therefore motivated to use the entrepreneur's website(s) andpurchase goods and services therefrom, whereas the entrepreneur(information sender) can construct a database concerning each of theusers, so that, if for example the user has won a lottery, theentrepreneur can provide a most adequate gift or prize and service tothe user, according to an individual information on that particular useras well as to a preference of the user, and through such processes, itis possible to increase the number of users who are interested in theentrepreneur's website.

In accordance with the inventions described in claim 5, a communicationtool is provided to the users, which is capable of displaying a hiddenimage and a filter image at the same time, such that those two imagesare indicated in a spaced-apart and adjoining relation with each other,and by means of such communication tool, the user can not merely obtaina given special benefit, but also can enjoy another benefits such asvarious kinds of advises and messages. In addition thereto, the usersare therefore motivated to use the entrepreneur's website(s) andpurchase goods and services therefrom, whereas the entrepreneur(information sender) can construct a database concerning each of theusers, so that, if for example the user has won a lottery, theentrepreneur can provide a most adequate gift or prize and service tothe user, according to an individual information on that particular useras well as to a preference of the user, and through such processes, itis possible to increase the number of users who are interested in theentrepreneur's website.

In accordance with the invention described in claim 6, it is possible toattain the effect that there is provided a web-based informationtransmission/processing device capable of transmitting the hidden imagedata and the filter to the user's terminal device(s) that has madeaccess thereto, which means that, in effect, those hidden and filterdata can be transmitted from the web-based informationtransmission/processing device to the user's terminal device(s) that hasmade access to the former, which in turn proves the capability of suchdevice to transmit an information which effectively can induce theuser(s) to positively use the entrepreneur's website and purchase goodstherefrom.

In accordance with the invention described in claim 7, it is possible toattain such effect that there is provided a wed-based informationtransmission/processing device which is capable of: transmitting aninformation input image data; and receiving an information data requiredin that information input image data and treating that particularinformation data as a collected information data, with such anarrangement that, upon receipt of such information data, an hidden imagedata which hides a particular information therein and a filter imagedata are transmitted to the user's terminal device(s) that has/have madeaccess to the web-based information transmission/processing device,thereby inducing the user(s) to positively use the entrepreneur'swebsite(s) and purchase goods therefrom, and also enabling easyconstruction of a database concerning the user(s).

1. A communication card system which is characterized by being providedwith: a first communication card formed by a sheet bearing predeterminedmarks printed thereon, wherein said predetermined marks includesletters, graphics and signs, and said sheet has, provided in a localizedregion thereof, an optical medium in which a hidden image intended forcommunication purpose is plotted; a first information processing systemcapable of transmission of an information input image data, said firstinformation processing system being of such an arrangement that,subsequent to said information input image data being transmittedtherefrom, and then, upon receipt of a collected information datawritten in said particular information input image data, the firstinformation processing system is operable to transmit an image outputdata for causing emission of a color tone(s) which makes/make visiblesaid hidden image in said optical medium, and that, when loading saidcollected information data, the first information processing system isoperable to classify said collected information data in a predeterminedway; and a user's terminal device having an information input means forallowing various kinds of information data to be inputted thereinto, adisplay means for displaying said information input image data and/orother data to be displayed, and a processing means for effecting variousrequired controls and processing information data, wherein saidcommunication card system is also characterized in that: said firstcommunication card is distributed to customer(s); said user's terminaldevice, when a URL indicated on said first communication card or othermedium is inputted therein, effects operation which entails: makingaccess to said first information processing system; then causing apredetermined information input image data to load to said particularuser's terminal device from the first information processing system;causing indication of an information input image on said display meansfrom said predetermined information input image data; and, upon a giveninformation data having been inputted into said information input imagevia said input means, transmitting said given information data to saidfirst information processing system; and further, said user's terminaldevice operates to emit a color tone(s) on and from said display means,said color tone(s) being based on an image output data transmitted fromsaid first information processing system, so that a hidden image in saidoptical medium of said first communication card is made visible by saidcolor tone(s) in such a manner as to permit visual perception of thehidden image, thereby providing a particular information to saidcustomer(s) through said first communication card.
 2. A communicationcard system which is characterized by being provided with: a firstcommunication card formed by a sheet bearing predetermined marks printedthereon, wherein said predetermined marks includes letters, graphics andsigns, and said sheet has, provided in a localized region thereof, anoptical medium in which a hidden image intended for communicationpurpose is plotted; a first information processing system capable oftransmission of an information input image data, said first informationprocessing system being of such an arrangement that, subsequent to saidinformation input image data being transmitted therefrom, and then, uponreceipt of a collected information data written in said particularinformation input image data, the first information processing system isoperable to transmit an image output data for causing emission of acolor tone(s) which makes/make visible said hidden image in said opticalmedium, and that, when loading said collected information data, thefirst information processing system is operable to classify saidcollected information data in a predetermined way; and wherein saidcommunication card system is also characterized in that: said fistcommunication card is distributed to a customer(s); and said firstinformation processing system effects operation which entails:transmitting a predetermined information input image data; then, uponreceipt of a collected information data, transmitting an image outputdata for causing emission of a predetermined color tone(s), with such anarrangement that said hidden image of said first communication card andsaid emission of predetermined color tone(s) are used so as to enablecommunication with a customer(s).
 3. A communication card system whichis characterized by being provided with: a second communication cardformed by a sheet bearing predetermined marks printed thereon, whereinsaid predetermined marks includes letters, graphics and signs, and saidsheet has, provided in a localized region thereof, an optical medium inwhich a hidden image intended for communication purpose is plotted; asecond information processing system capable of transmission of aninformation input image data, said second information processing systembeing of such an arrangement that, subsequent to said information inputimage data being transmitted therefrom, and then, upon receipt of acollected information data written in said particular information inputimage data, the second information processing system is operable tocombine a data on said hidden image, which is to be sent to acustomer(s), with a main image data to be displayed, so as to create animage output data which is adapted for causing only an image associatedwith said main image data to indicate in a visible manner, while causingsaid hidden image data to indicate in an invisible manner, thentransmitting said image output data, and further, the second informationprocessing system, after having loaded said collected information data,operates to classify the collected information data in a predeterminedway; and a user's terminal device having an information input means forallowing various kinds of information data to be inputted therein, adisplay means for displaying said information input image data and/orother data to be displayed, and a processing means for effecting variousrequired controls and processing information data, wherein saidcommunication card system is also characterized in that: said secondcommunication card is distributed to a customer(s); said user's terminaldevice, into which is inputted a URL indicated on said secondcommunication card or other medium, is operable to execute the steps of:making access to said second information processing system; then causinga predetermined information input image data to load into saidparticular user's terminal device from said second informationprocessing system; causing indication of an information input image onsaid display means from said predetermined information input image data;and upon a particular information data having been inputted into saidinformation input image via said input means, transmitting saidparticular information data to said second information processingsystem; and further, said user's terminal device is operable to receivean image output data transmitted from said second informationtransmission processing device, and causes indication of a main imagedata on said display means, while simultaneously causing indication of ahidden image data in an invisible manner on said display means, withsuch an arrangement that a hidden image indicated on said display meansis made visually perceivable by means of said second communication card,thereby providing a predetermined information to said customer(s) viasaid second communication card.
 4. A communication card system which ischaracterized by being provided with: a second communication card formedby a sheet bearing predetermined marks printed thereon, wherein saidpredetermined marks includes letters, graphics and signs, and said sheethas, provided in a localized region thereof, an optical medium in whicha hidden image intended for communication purpose is plotted; and asecond information processing system capable of transmission of aninformation input image data, said second information processing systembeing of such an arrangement that, subsequent to said information inputimage data being transmitted therefrom, and then, upon receipt of acollected information data written in said particular information inputimage data, the second information processing system is operable tocombine a data on said hidden image, which is to be presented tocustomer(s), with a main image data to be displayed, so as to create animage output data which is adapted for causing only an image associatedwith said main image data to indicate in a visible manner, while causingsaid hidden image data to indicate in an invisible manner, thentransmitting said image output data, and further, the second informationprocessing system, after having loaded said collected information data,operates to classify the collected information data in a predeterminedway; wherein said communication card system is also characterized inthat: said second communication card is distributed to a customer(s);said second information processing system effects operation whichentails: transmitting a predetermined information input image data; andthen, upon receipt of a collected information, transmitting an imageoutput data for causing emission of a predetermined color tone(s), sothat said second communication card and a hidden image indicated therebyeffectively allows for communication with said customer(s).
 5. Acommunication system which comprises: a web-based informationtransmission/processing device operable to execute processing whichconsists in: creating a hidden image data for causing indication of ahidden image in a predetermined area of an image being displayed;creating a filter image data for causing indication of a filter imagewhich is to be emitted in a color tone(s) which makes/make said hiddenimage visible in other area than said predetermined area of said imagebeing displayed; creating an information input image data; transmittingsaid information input image data; and, upon receipt of a collectedinformation data concerning an information data required in thethus-transmitted information input image data, transmitting said hiddenimage data and said filter image data; a user's terminal device(s)having an information input image for allowing various requiredinformation data to be inputted thereinto; a display means fordisplaying an information input image data and other data to bedisplayed; and a processing means for effecting various requiredcontrols and processing information data; wherein said web-basedinformation transmission/processing device is connected with said user'sterminal device(s) via a telecommunication system; said communicationsystem being characterized in that: said user's terminal device(s)is/are operable to execute processing which consists in: making accessto said web-based information transmission/processing device on basis ofan URL inputted thereinto; causing a predetermined information inputimage data to load into the use's terminal device(s) from said web-basedinformation transmission/processing device; causing indication of saidpredetermined information input image data on said display means; and,upon an information data having been inputted thereinto in response tothe information required by said information input image data,transmitting said information data to said web-based informationtransmission/processing device; and further, said user's terminaldevice(s) is/are operable to cause indication of said hidden image dataand said filter image data on said display means, wherein said hiddenimage data and said filter image data have been transmitted from saidweb-based information transmission/processing device in response to thesaid information data transmitted to the latter, whereby said hiddenimage is made visually perceivable so as to provide an informationintended for particular communication purpose.
 6. A web-basedinformation transmission/processing device, which is characterized bybeing provided with a means capable of: creating a hidden image data forcausing indication of a hidden image in a predetermined area of an imagebeing displayed and a filter image data for causing indication of afilter image which is to be emitted in a color tone(s) for making saidhidden image visible in other area than said predetermined area of saidimage being displayed; and also transmitting said hidden image data andsaid filter image data to a telecommunication system in a direction to auser's terminal device which makes access to the web-based informationtransmission/processing device.
 7. A web-based informationtransmission/processing device, which is characterized by being providedwith a means operable to execute processing which consists in: creating:a hidden image data for causing indication of a hidden image in apredetermined area of an image being displayed; a filter image data forcausing indication of a filter image which is to be emitted in a colortone(s) for making said hidden image visible in other area than saidpredetermined area of said image being displayed; and an informationinput image data; then transmitting said information input image data,and, upon receipt of a collected information data concerning aninformation data required in said information input image data,transmitting said hidden image data and said filter image data to atelecommunication system in a direction to a user's terminal device(s)which has/have made access to the web-based informationtransmission/processing device.